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{
    "id": 100901,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/100901/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Prof. Saitoti): Thank you very much, indeed, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to answer. The Coalition Government directed that investigations be conducted by the PricewaterhouseCoopers on the management of subsidized maize imported in 2008 and 2009. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers dated 2009, recommended that further investigations be conducted by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and other Government agencies. The report also acknowledged that the findings of the investigations were inconclusive and there was no need therefore for further evidence before concluding the matter. KACC has completed the investigations and arrived at the following conclusions: (a) that the structures, systems and procedures at the National Cereals and Produce Board for the sale and distribution of the subsidized and Strategic Grain Reserve maize are outdated and weak and require urgent review and strengthening. (b) that there was no evidence of criminal culpability on the part of any of the civil servants suspended over maize saga. (c) that while undeserving businessmen were able to buy and sell subsidized maize from the NCPB, this act in itself did not amount in law to a criminal act. Indeed, the available evidence does not disclose any criminal offence. (d) the very importation of the subsidized maize was done above board in compliance with the law and on the advice of the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA); and, (e) the disciplinary administration action should be taken against some civil servants who appear to have been less judicious in discharging their duties. These disciplinary measures include transfers, reprimand, suspension, etc . Mr. Speaker, Sir, as regards the free primary education saga, audits by the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance and by the Kenya National Audit Office reveals that imprest in the sum of Kshs103 million appears not to have been supported by genuine expenditure returns. There appears also to be instances of funds being allocated to some undeserving schools. These civil servants who have failed to account for their imprests have been arraigned in court. In the case of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education at the time, no evidence of criminal culpability has been established against him. The Government has further directed officials in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education to co-operate fully with the donors who are involved in the audit of the Free Primary Education Programme. The civil servants were suspended for three months to allow impartial investigations by the Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission (KACC) and other Government agencies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with the investigations completed, the Government has reinstated the officers against whom there was no evidence of criminal culpability. The Government is also in the process of re-engineering the operations of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to avoid a repeat of the unfortunate events by unscrupulous businessmen buying and selling subsidized maize at exorbitant prices."
}