Waiguru on the spot over suspect NYS deals

Devolution secretary Anne Waiguru has blamed cartels for fighting her as queries emerged over suspect transactions at the National Youth Service (NYS) that could cost taxpayers Sh826 million.

Ms Waiguru said cartels she scuttled at the NYS were fighting back and that her ministry was the first to sound the alarm over suspect dealings at the service.

She was reacting to reports of questionable payment of hundreds of millions of shillings to private companies and consultants through the NYS—whose budget has been increased to Sh25 billion.

“It is clear that the cartels who were stopped from benefiting from NYS deals are now fighting back,” said Ms Waiguru.

“As the minister responsible for the NYS, I wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on June 18, asking them to investigate various transactions that had been reported suspect. These investigations are still ongoing,” she added without giving details of the alleged fraudulent deals.

Reports in The Star newspaper said that the Central Bank of Kenya was uncomfortable with payments from the NYS accounts.

“These suppliers and consultants that are referred to in the story won tenders fairly and delivered on their respective obligations and were paid accordingly,” said Ms Waiguru during yesterday’s briefing.

Some of the suppliers mentioned in the story include publicity firm Transcend Media and political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi through the Consulting House.

The minister also denied an alleged rift in the NYS ranks following her appointment of Adan Harakhe as the deputy director.

NYS director- general Nelson Githinji, whose appointment last year caused a storm, said his working relationship with Ms Waiguru is cordial.