Former Planning Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti will Tuesday appear before a parliamentary watchdog investigating the loss of Sh180 million for youth projects.
Mangiti would be the first among former and current top officials as well as directors of various companies scheduled to appear this week before the National Assembly's Public Investment Committee that is probing claims of fraud at the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF).
PIC Chairman Adan Keynan said the lost amount could be higher after members held a closed-door session with suspended YEDF CEO Catherine Namuye last week and obtained more documents from her.
Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru is set to appear before the MPs on Thursday to explain what she knows about the loss of the monies under inquiry.
In past sessions, Fund board chairman Bruce Odhiambo has been on the spot for making unilateral decisions and misrepresenting the board's decisions, resulting in the loss of the funds. Waiguru and Mangiti were summoned by the legislators after they queried why Odhiambo copied all his correspondence to them, despite going against the board's decision.
"We have invited various persons already mentioned in the course of our investigations. The companies mentioned must also shade light on their involvement with the agency," said Mr Keynan.
The MPs have even threatened to transfer the committee sittings to YEDF headquarters to gather more information.
Keynan disclosed it appeared there was a conspiracy to defraud the agency, in light with the Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Karuiki's exposure that the fund had already contracted an ICT strategy currently being implemented at a cost of Sh5.9 million, spread from 2013 to 2017 by Macro Flex Limited.
Already, two boards members (names withheld), excluding the former acting CEO-board secretary, have been adversely mentioned in the probe for bypassing the Inspectorate of State Corporation and using shortcuts, in collusion with former Devolution and Planning ministry's top leadership to steal from the agency.
Namuye alleged the board's meetings to endorse the ICT project had been doctored to implicate her and requested the MPs to help her secure the original minute book for verification. "There are several documents missing. The board had specific interest," said Namuye.
Previous witnesses, including Quorandum Limited Managing Director Mukuri Ngamau told the MPs he dealt directly with Namuye.
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