Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has ordered the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to undertake comprehensive investigations on procurement processes at the National Youth Service (NYS).
Speaking to the media on Friday, May 9, Ruku expressed that the report by PPRA would help address systematic challenges that have been used as a leeway for corruption at NYS.
The CS made the directive after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced that it was investigating senior officials of NYS over a Ksh2 billion procurement scandal.
Therefore, he noted that the investigations will cover the procurement done by the institutions between the 2019/2020 to 2024/2025 financial years.
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Further, the CS also directed the NYS council to institute disciplinary action against officers who violated the procurement laws and engaged in corrupt activities.
Details of the Ksh2 Billion Corruption Scandal
Early in the week, EACC announced that it was investigating 8 individuals, including senior NYS officials, over a Ksh2 billion procurement scandal.
In undertaking its investigation, EACC also raided the homes of the suspects. The officials facing probe include Nicholas Makokha (Deputy Commandant General, Operations and Logistics), David Muthee Mbogo (Head of Supply Chain Management- Gilgil Paramilitary Academy) and Joseph Maina Kagiri (Camp Accountant, Gilgil Paramilitary Academy).
The senior officials, together with some of their family members, are reported to have benefited from fictitious contracts.
"The operation, which was pursuant to Court Orders, is part of ongoing investigations in the National Youth Service in relation to the following allegations of conflict of interest and abuse of office against several Senior National Youth Service officials who traded with the NYS through various companies, resulting in payments of a total of Ksh2 billion between the Financial Years 2019/2020 and 2024/2025.
"The suspects allegedly abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion, procurement fraud and payment for fictitious contracts," read the statement in part.
