Omtatah Unveils Rift Between Ann Njeri and Ruto’s CSs in Ksh 17B Oil Controversy
Senator Okiya Omtatah of Busia has challenged Kipchumba Murkomen, the Transport counterpart, and Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to come clean regarding the Ksh17 billion scandal involving energy magnate Ann Njeri Njoroge.
The activist claimed in a statement dated Saturday that the two CS might have conducted business with the energy magnate.
Furthermore, he stated that he had sufficient grounds to suspect that the CSS and the businesswoman had a falling out. Therefore, she proceeded to challenge the consignment, which contradicted CS Chrirchir’s assertion that it belonged to a regional business.
“I challenge CS Chirchir and CS Murkomen to stop fooling the nation and come clean on their relationship with Alice Njeri, whom I reasonably believe is their front in the heist, whom they have fallen out with,” Omtatah dared.
Nevertheless, he failed to furnish any supporting documentation, including phone records, company records, or anything else. His counterargument was that the government provided funding for the Ksh17 billion utilized to acquire oil.
The activist and first-time senator further stated that the funds were withdrawn from the Ministry of Energy accounts irregularly after being deposited three times from the Treasury since October 2022.
ALSO READ:
- Raila Ally Breaks Silence After Ruto-Uhuru Meeting
- Gachagua Close Ally Karungo Wa Thang’wa Accepts Ruto’s CBS Award
- Gov’t to Release Ksh.32 Billion to Counties Next Week – DP Kindiki
- High Court Strikes Down Ruto-Raila 2023 IEBC Amendment Bill
- Kenya Water Towers Agency Dissolved: Government Moves to Streamline State Corporations
“As per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Ukur Yatani, the then CS Treasury, vide Kenya Gazette Notice No. 12580 of October 6, 2022, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund some Ksh16,637,588,580 in September 2022, purportedly for subsidies to private financial enterprises.
“Per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, vide Gazette Notice No. 2071 of February 14, 2023, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund Ksh9,102,983,190 in January 2023, for subsidies to private financial enterprises.
“As per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Prof. Ndung’u, the CS Treasury, vide Gazette Notice No. 9734 of July 13, 2023, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund some Ksh17,224,718,632 in June 2023, at the closure of the FY 2022/2023, for subsidies to private financial enterprise,” read Omtatah statement in part.
Omtatah Questions the Silence of Ann Njeri’s Company Directors
Additionally, the Senator was perplexed as to why Ann Njeri’s company’s other directors had not responded to the matter. Ann Njeri and the two CSs have yet to respond to Senator Omtatah’s allegations.
Murkomen and Chirchir’s Remarks Regarding the Oil Saga
Nevertheless, the CSs have in the past maintained that the oil was transported to other countries after being imported by a corporation and not an individual.
Chirchir acknowledged instructing Ann Njeri to provide a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after her grievance regarding the seizure of her consignment by the government.
“The consignment was brought in by a company called Galana and it has been discharged. So, we want to know the truth but the case is in court at the moment,” the CS stated during a tree-planting exercise in Bomet on November 13.
In contrast, Murkomen contended that Ann Njeri sought to retrieve the consignment after its release to proprietors who made a demand for it.
“The owners of the consignment came with the papers and were given the consignment. KPA’s work was to look at the documentation of the shipment, verify it with the papers of those who came to claim it, and release it,” Murkomen stated.
Ann Njeri & Her Lawyer Cliff Ombeta Accuse Govt
Attorney Cliff Ombeta, speaking after presenting Ann Njeri in Mombasa Law Court, asserted that Ann Njeri was the rightful proprietor of the shipped consignment and that it had been pilfered by the government before her abduction.
“She was also threatened to return the other four consignments she was to bring. The court had ordered the ship to be detained, but it was discharged. The ship’s captain also confirmed that he was threatened over the matter, with the people accusing him of colluding with Ann.
“What kind of law is this? If the government itself is corrupt, then how can we operate? She has retrieved oil consignments on many occasions, so why is it a problem now?” Ombeta wondered.
Ann Njeri asserted that her abductors intended to execute her; however, she was freed after their exoneration from any misconduct.
Omtatah Unveils Rift Between Ann Njeri and Ruto’s CSs in Ksh 17B Oil Controversy
