Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has revealed that she approved withdrawals of cash amounting to more than Sh15 billion under duress.
Appearing before the National Assembly Public Petitions committee, Nyakang’o said she noticed various irregularities but had to approve because of the pressure.
The withdrawals were made under the roads annuity programme amounting to about Sh9 billion and Sh6 billion for payment for telecom.
She said that she questioned why the minutes of the committee that was supposed to approve pick roads for construction were not attached.
Nyakang’o said she received several responses from a senior Treasury official, pushing her to approve the withdrawals for the projects.
In a document she tabled before the panel, Nyakango printed the conversations with the senior Treasury official.
In some of them, the Treasury official is cited saying that ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta would call her if she delayed the approvals.
Ms Margaret Nyakang’o told the National Assembly Public Petitions committee Tuesday that former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani pressured her to authorise the payments that included Sh6 billion to cater for the exit of UK-based private equity firm Helios Investment from Telkom Kenya and another Sh9.2 billion from the annuity fund to finance some road projects.
“I sought to see the resolution that approved this but it was not available. What I was given was the contract between Helios and the Cabinet Secretary,” Dr Nyakang’o said.
Dr Nyakang’o also cast doubt on the Sh27 billion fuel subsidy released on September 16, saying it should be audited.
“This article is really being abused. There are people who have seen the loopholes in it and they are really utilizing it,” Dr Nyakang’o.
