The Public Investments Committee (PIC) was left in shock after Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich revealed that the Ministry of Tourism tricked Parliament into approving Sh500 Million for an unapproved project
PIC had summoned the Treasury CS to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the controversial award of a Sh8.9 Billion contract for the construction of Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi.
According to Mr Rotich, the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism had requested an additional Sh1.3 Billion for payment of pending bills.
Rotich said he declined the request and informed the then Tourism CS Phyllis Kandie of the breach of procurement law and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, in the award of the multibillion-shilling tender without an approved budget.
The Ministry of Tourism did not heed Treasury’s advice and instead lobbied Parliament by organising a site visit for MPs sitting in the House Finance Committee to Kilifi.
After the visit, MPs allocated Sh500 Million in the 2013/2014 budget without realising that the Cabinet had not approved the project.
PIC members including Nominated MP Oburu Oginga and Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita, who also sit on the Finance Committee, were shocked that ministry officials tricked lawmakers into allocating the money.
“I am member of Finance Committee and the information was not availed to us that there was no Cabinet approval,” Mr Oginga said.
