Mang’eli dismisses audit on Kebs as ‘unprofessional’ and ‘a witch hunt’

By Standard Reporter

Dr Kioko Mang’eli yesterday dismissed an audit on Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) by the Inspectorate of State Corporations as "vile, vindictive, unprofessional...and intended to besmirch" his reputation.

The story on the audit was published in yesterday’s issue of Financial Journal. In a strongly worded statement,Dr Mang’eli said that the report by the Inspector General was not signed, is a witch hunt, and that the "investigators did not interview the management staff nor the Managing Director to verify the reports."

Interestingly enough, Dr Mang’eli sent the statement as the Managing Director of Kebs, despite his apparent dismissal by the Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Muthaura last week. Dr Mang’eli said the audit is based on hearsay, and that the investigating team to counter the allegations never interviewed him made against him.

"This is in contravention of the rules of natural justice, the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, the Civil Service Code of Regulations and the Kebs Staff Regulations," said Dr Mang’eli.

"The (investigating) team applied selective justice by interviewing selected people who hold adverse opinion to that of the Managing Director, and could not therefore be objective. The team deliberately and intentionally ensured that the Managing Director’s views were not taken into consideration by not interviewing him."

Dr Mang’eli said vital documents, including minutes of board meetings, "were not exhaustively considered" by the investigators.

"The team reached conclusions and made recommendations in areas they are not qualified to," said Dr Mang’eli. He said he approved the ISO 9001:2000 certification of Nakumatt Holdings after Kebs carried out proper audits at the request of the retail chain, despite an existing court injunction that was issued in 2002 stopping Kebs from inspecting goods on the shelves of the company’s stores.

"The (investigating) team totally failed to appreciate the distinction between the pending court case and the certification of Nakumatt. The team erroneously proceeded on the presumption that Kebs could not enter Nakumatt....," he added.