- Sources say Mr Owidi has ordered a probe into an alleged Ksh. 3m scam by members of the board. The board had approved a payment of the money to be used on tree planting, reported to have been from a donor. At the centre of the scam are the agency’s acting CEO Chrispine Juma, and board members Joseph Okoto, Joyce Mong’are and Jerida Bosibori
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Even before the ink on his appointment letter dries up, the new Chairman of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LKVSWDA) Odoyo Owidi has unearthed a scandal by the agency’s board. Mr Owidi who is himself a former Lake Basin Development Authority chairperson was appointed by President William Ruto for three months from March 10th to June 4th, 2023.
Sources say Mr Owidi has ordered a probe into an alleged Ksh. 3m scam by members of the board. The board had approved a payment of the money to be used on tree planting, reported to have been from a donor. At the centre of the scam are the agency’s acting CEO Chrispine Juma, and board members Joseph Okoto, Joyce Mong’are and Jerida Bosibori. According to Mr Owidi, there is no proof that the said tree planting activity was ever carried out, or whether any seedlings were planted and the procurement of the seedlings, he claims there is no documentary evidence of the same.
Also under investigation is another claim that Ksh. 3m was paid to a member of staff in lieu of imprest through four cheques all dated 11th February 2021. However, the payments were made contrary to Regulation 91(1) of the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations, 2015 which requires officers who have to make payments which cannot conveniently be made through the cash office of a government entity or bank account be issued with imprest, not cash.
Further, it has been discovered that the board used the direct procurement method to procure social responsibility goods and services instead of competitive bidding. Total expenditure on Corporate Social Responsibility was Ksh. 6,650,100 but the board can only be able to provide records for Ksh. 3m, therefore Ksh. 3,650,100 cannot be accounted for.
