Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ngilu to face Anti-Corruption probe


Water Minister Charity Ngilu and Director for Water Services Lawrence Simitu address a Parliamentary Select Committee on October 21, 2010. Mrs Ngilu failed to respond to summons by the KACC detectives on Wednesday, claiming that she received the summons late on Tuesday and had not prepared her defence adequately. Photo/FILE
Water Minister Charity Ngilu and Director for Water Services Lawrence Simitu address a Parliamentary Select Committee on October 21, 2010. Mrs Ngilu failed to respond to summons by the KACC detectives on Wednesday, claiming that she received the summons late on Tuesday and had not prepared her defence adequately. Photo/FILE 
By ZADDOCK ANGIRA zangira@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Wednesday, December 8 2010 at 22:30

Embattled Water minister Charity Ngilu will on Thursday appear before the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to answer to graft allegations levelled against her ministry.
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Mrs Ngilu failed to respond to summons by the KACC detectives on Wednesday, claiming that she received the summons — issued on Monday — late on Tuesday and had not prepared her defence adequately.
The minister is also set to face the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources on Thursday.
She is to answer to corruption allegations in her ministry, ranging from forgery, unprocedural payments for goods and services, double payments, tax evasion, irregular awards of tenders and nepotism.
The minister has denied the allegations raised by Public Works assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri, who claimed that she is responsible for the impropriety in the ministry he served before he was transferred a few months ago.
At the weekend, Mrs Ngilu dared President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to sack her, stating that she was ready to go home for allocating more resources to Ukambani.
“I want to state here very clearly; if I will lose my job because I’ve given to people who deserve water so much, so be it. I’ll be ready to do so. I am doing justice to a community that has suffered for many years.”
However, the core of the questioning will revolve around several companies that were awarded tenders to supply materials for the construction of dams by water boards under her ministry.
She is also expected to be questioned about contents of a report showing that at least Sh137 million may have been lost from the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation in one year alone through payments for goods and services without proper supporting documents.
The report, whose contents were published in Wednesday’s Nation, was released by the committee on Lands and Natural Resources, chaired by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi.

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