ODM MPs want fresh audit on National Youth Service over loss of Sh791m

ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba (right), Mama Sarah Obama and others dance during the official opening of Verslo Primary School in Got Agulu on Saturday. [Photo: COLLINS ODUOR/Standard]

Some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs have called for a lifestyle audit of the National Youth Service (NYS) programmes based on the revelation that Sh791 million was actually stolen from the institution.

ODM Director of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi, said what was earlier thought to be an attempted fraud actually took place, adding that there are serious anomalies at NYS, which have not been properly investigated.

On Friday, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru announced that following an inquiry by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), it was established that the cash had been stolen by unidentified people.

Paralysed Learning

Speaking at Got Agulu during the launch of Verslo Primary School in Bondo, Siaya County, Mr Wandayi asked Ms Waiguru to resign and pave way for thorough investigations.

ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba said the Government should use the money allocated to NYS and laptop projects to pay the striking teachers.

“The 22 suspects thought to have defrauded NYS are largely junior and middle-level managers who could not access Sh791 million without the knowledge of their seniors. The buck stops with Waiguru. She must be the first to leave so that an audit can be carried ought,” Wandayi said.

The Ugunja MP said Waiguru’s decision to crack the whip on the 22 NYS officials was a diversionary tactic, adding that there were cover-ups into the investigations he termed as shoddy.

“There is need for a forensic audit to unearth the truth. Why should the officials be punished yet their head is spared?” Wandayi wondered. He added: “The institution is losing millions through the manipulated integrated financial management system. What we are being told is just a drop in the ocean.”

Although Namwamba did not delve much into the NYS debate, he said the Sh25 billion that it had been allocated should be diverted to pay teachers