Search on for new Youth Fund boss

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Youth Public Service and Gender CS Sicily Kariuki during an interview with the standard at her office on 12/5/16-BEVERLYNE MUSILI

he recruitment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the troubled Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) has already begun.

Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki yesterday said that she has directed the YEDF management to immediately commence the recruitment of the CEO.

The organisation, which has been dogged by cases of financial misappropriation and leadership wrangles, has operated without a substantive CEO since 2013.

In due course, the CS, without giving an exact timeline, affirmed that President Uhuru Kenyatta will appoint the new board members. The President disbanded the previous board which was led by Bruce Odhiambo over embezzlement of Sh180.3 million.

Ms Kariuki also revealed that all financial operations of the fund have been suspended.

Further, she said she had directed the management to shift its focus to loans recovery as opposed to advancing credits to the youth.

Kariuki's intervention was occasioned by the alleged loss of Sh180.3 million through fraudulent payment of a non-existent consultancy and another Sh44.7 million in a botched YEDF eighth anniversary event.

"I have instructed the fund's leadership to advertise for the position of the CEO. I am sure the process is on course," she said in an interview.

She continued: "The President is presently out of the country but since he has to be involved in the process of appointing the new board, I will do so at the appropriate time. We are determined to restore public confidence at the Fund."

President Kenyatta sacked the entire board over loss of public funds, abuse of office and breach of procurement and financial laws.

Suspended former acting CEO Catherine Namuye, Odhiambo and the board members have been faulted for the loss of the Sh180 million, paid to Quorandum Limited for a consultancy service that was never rendered.

Good lessons

National Assembly Public Investments Committee chaired by Eldas MP Adan Keynan has recommended in its report, probing of the alleged fraud and financial mismanagement at the fund, and that the CS appoints a substantive CEO.

"We will have a new board that must be accountable for all its undertakings. It will also be crucial in shortlisting the candidate for CEO to be confirmed by me. What happened at the fund is unfortunate but we can only pick the good lessons to ensure the fund realises it goals," said the CS.

Emmanuel Odero is the acting CEO of the fund