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SCANDAL? Waiguru in more trouble over use of Sh15 billion


Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru could find herself in more trouble after senators resolved to form a committee to investigate how her ministry disbursed Sh15 billion meant for thousands of IDPs who were forced out of their homes after the 2007 post-election violence.

They lamented the ministry had given them scanty details on how the money was distributed among the 600,000 IDPs, resolving to investigate the matter to find out if there was financial mismanagement.

The House will pick members to the committee next week upon passage of a Motion by Vihiga Senator George Khaniri (UDF).

The committee will look into the criteria used in the identification, clustering and payment of IDPs after some senators claimed the process was skewed in favour of members from one community.

Ms Waiguru is already under pressure to resign after she admitted that fraudulent payments amounting to Sh791 million were paid to various companies for goods and services not provided to the National Youth Service.

A statement from Ms Waiguru’s ministry on the status of remaining IDPs read to the House last week by the Committee on Devolved Government Vice-Chairperson Naisula Lesuuda was dismissed, with members saying it was not satisfactory.

The lawmakers said payments to displaced persons had been done selectively. They said while some got Sh400,000 each plus a piece of land, others got Sh400,000 only. Another group got Sh10,000.

Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-K, Bungoma) suggested that the only way to get into the core of the IDPs settlement issue was through a special committee comprising members from both coalitions to investigate the matter.

“This is a matter of national interest. Sh15 billion has been sunk into the IDP scam,” he said.