The Auditor General also revealed that Board Members were paid their per diem in cash instead of making payments through their respective bank accounts and no evidence was availed to show that indeed the members acknowledged receipt of the money. It was further, noted that all the per diem requisition forms supporting the payment voucher were not signed and dated by the head of the relevant department but were only signed by the Financial Controller and Chief Executive Officer
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s niece Nana Gecaga has left the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) after seven years at the helm. Now barely weeks after her contract expired, details of how public funds were misused during her tenure have emerged; she has been in charge of KICC for seven years.
She is the daughter of Jeni Wambui, who is a daughter to the first President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and Udi Gecaga, son of Jemimah Gecaga. She was appointed as KICC’s acting Managing Director in 2016 by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.
According to a report by Auditor General, some Board Members and staff of KICC went to Mauritius to attend the World Travel Award. Through payment voucher No.721 dated 20th May 2019, the Corporation made an irregular payment of USD 14,816 equivalent to Ksh. 1,506,639 to an accountant and it was noted that the said person is not a Board Member nor was he among the staff nominated to represent the Corporation in the award ceremony.
The Auditor General also revealed that Board Members were paid their per diem in cash instead of making payments through their respective bank accounts and no evidence was availed to show that indeed the members acknowledged receipt of the money. It was further, noted that all the per diem requisition forms supporting the payment voucher were not signed and dated by the head of the relevant department but were only signed by the Financial Controller and Chief Executive Officer.
It is not clear why the Corporation incurred such huge expenses in sending a huge delegation of staff members to a single in Mauritius for an award ceremony when fewer members could have represented the Corporation adequately to reduce such expenses
It was also noted that no invitation from the host supporting the payment voucher was provided for audit review and it was further noted that 12 members of staff and eight 8 Board members were paid per diem allowances totalling Ksh. 6,805,650 to represent the Corporation to attend the award ceremony in Mauritius.
It is not clear why the Corporation incurred such huge expenses in sending a huge delegation of staff members to a single award ceremony when fewer members could have represented the Corporation adequately to reduce such expenses. The Management, therefore, breached Section 68(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 which requires an Accounting Officer for a national government entity to ensure that resources are used in a lawful and authorized manner which is also effective, efficient, economical and transparent.
The report further reveals that some of the staff who resigned or had their services terminated left without being cleared by the Corporation leaving car loans and advanced debts. The outstanding car loan balance stood at Ksh. 4,644,510 as of 30th June, 2020 and the Corporation is exposed to the risk of non-recovery of the car loans and advances due.
