Former Interior CS Matiang’i Called in by MPs- Here Is Why
Next week, Fred Matiang’i will presumably make his first public appearance in nearly seven months when he addresses members of parliament.
Next Wednesday, Matiangi will testify before the Education and Governance public investment committee of the National Assembly.
He is scheduled to address issues related to the 2018 suspension of a Kenyatta University campus in Kigali, Rwanda.
The then-Education Cabinet Secretary, Matiang’i, is alleged to have issued a directive to terminate the campus without consulting other key stakeholders.
“Accountability for such decisions is crucial to prevent future mismanagement,” reads a report seen by PoliticalPulseChat.
The report follows an inspection tour to the country by a delegation of some Committee members led by Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima on September 27.
Matiangi was last seen in March when he appeared at DCI headquarters to record a statement regarding an alleged February police raid on his residence.
The visit was necessitated by an audit inquiry raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which revealed that the university had closed despite spending a total of Sh420,749,207.
According to the General Auditor, there were no economic returns to the nation.
According to reports, the campus was closed due to operational issues prompted by the Rwandan government.
Since then, the National Treasury has authorized the sale of the Kigali property.
“Despite the University’s assurance that all necessary checks were done before opening the campus, the management has not yet recovered the full amount spent,” the auditor general said in the report.
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In its response, the administration informed the committee that, by Treasury directives and in response to a directive from the Ministry of Education, the University had begun the process of closing the Campus.
It also cited the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy during the period as a reason for the delay in the sale of the property, noting that as a stopgap measure, the University Council approved leasing the property to generate estimated monthly rental income of Sh4.5 million.
“The tender was evaluated but the highest responsive bidder submitted an offer that was below the market rate, hence the tender was declared non-responsive,” it submitted.
Land and building acquisition accounted for Sh314,894,910, renovation and partitioning for Sh54,073,302, furniture and equipment for Sh6,657,697, computers for Sh24,699,246 and motor vehicles for Sh8,206,855.
The operating expenses were (Sh11,489,009), while the personal compensation was (Sh728,185).
During the inspection trip to Kigali, the committee also determined that the renovation costs were unjustified and that the land purchase was a single-source transaction.
Inadequate craftsmanship, the absence of stakeholder consultation, and the potential for financial loss were also observed.
It has also recommended a special audit to determine whether the purchase of the land and building, as well as subsequent expenditures, provided value for money.
“The audit should investigate potential irregularities and financial mismanagement,” reads the report by Kirima.
The former vice-chancellor of the University of Kansas, Olive Mugenda, and the accounting officer during the purchase and renovation of the campus have also been asked to explain the costs incurred.
Former Interior CS Matiang’i Called in by MPs- Here Is Why