Nacada raises alarm over Sh99m scandal involving officials, NGOs

EMBU, KENYA: National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) has unearthed a scandal where fake non-governmental organisations colluded with dishonest officials to swindle the authority of Sh99million.
Nacada Chairman John Mututho said the scam involved over 100 NGOs which applied for funds from the authority purportedly for use in anti-alcohol and anti-drugs campaigns.
Speaking at an Embu hotel on Monday, he said on checking from the NGO board, they discovered only three NGOs among those that qualified had complied with the mandatory requirements of the board.
He said the money allocated to the organisations amounted to 15 percent of proceeds from bar licences given to civil society organisations to fight drugs and alcohol abuse.
"We are investigating the NGOs that illegally acquired the money and action would be taken against them. We are asking them to refund the money and for Nacada officials who colluded with them to resign early before we catch up with them. We can't support crooks to cheat Nacada," said Mututho.
He said among the over 1000 people involved in the scandal most of them are police officers and assistant chiefs, adding that the interior ministry is after their case.
He said one of the NGOs received Sh3million and are investigating the amount each organisation received and how it was used.
He said it was unfortunate that instead of fighting alcoholism where 2.6millions Kenyans are addicted, government officials are involved in corrupt deals to swindle Nacada.