Committee chairman Emmanuel Wangwe.
By MKT Reporter
The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration, and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) put the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) under the microscope over major audit irregularities.
The committee which is chaired by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe quizzed the two institutions heads yesterday at Parliament buildings.
At the CA, officials led by Director-General David Mugonyi faced tough questions over the long-delayed Device Management System (DMS), a project launched in 2016 at $2.081 million (about KSh 217 million). Despite an initial payment of KSh 21.7 million, the project has seen no progress in eight years.
Vice-Chairperson Caleb Amisi dismissed claims that ongoing court cases were to blame, suggesting the litigation was “manufactured to conceal internal failures.”
The authority’s legal team cited a High Court ruling that struck down the system over privacy concerns and lack of public participation.
Wangwe demanded a feasibility study and a full accounting of legal costs.
Additional scrutiny fell on the CA’s official residence in Lavington, which has remained unused for over five years despite a proposed renovation budget of KSh 95 million on a property valued at just KSh 7 million.
Other concerns included potential revenue losses of KSh12.35 million, unrecovered staff loans of KSh15.1 million, and irregular appointments to the Universal Service Advisory Council.
At the KVB, CEO Dr. Mary Theresa Agutu faced questions over the construction of the Board’s headquarters on land without a title deed.
Dr. Agutu said the land was allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture and documentation is in process with the National Land Commission.
Auditors also highlighted excess board expenses surpassing the 5 percent cap by KSh 4.38 million, though the Board said this was due to its 17-member legal composition and a recent reduction of sitting allowances from KSh20,000 to KSh12,000.
The committee also criticized KVB’s staffing, xnoting only 20 employees were on board against an approved establishment of 222.
“This gap is enabling quacks to exploit farmers and endanger livestock,” warned Ahmed Hassan. Dr. Agutu assured that digitization efforts and issuance of identification cards would help curb malpractice.
The PIC-SSAA directed the CA to submit a detailed DMS report within a week, while KVB must recover irregular payments, secure the land title, and expedite staff recruitment. Lawmakers welcomed a governance bill aimed at reducing board membership to align with the Mwongozo Code.
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