The Bomas of Kenya board chairman Josiah Magut and the General Manager Peter Gitaa Koria are on the spot for allegedly blocking planned board meetings to deliberate a litany of graft allegations at the beleaguered public facility, The Informer has learnt.
A section of board members is planning to formally write to the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Principal Secretary Zeinab Hussein seeking ministry’s intervention to address the rot at the parastatal.
Sources privy with the goings on at Karen based institution intimated that senior officials adversely implicated fear a full board meeting May pass resolutions have comprehensive audit undertaken and thus risk having their culpability unmasked.
Neither Magut nor Gitaa have responded to a multiple questionnaires by The Informer in a serialised exposee of the alleged malpractices at the facility.
“A good number of board members feel the decision to frustrate a full board meeting is a scheme to sweep the grave matters under the carpet and to let the issues touching on embezzlement of funds, tendering irregularities and abuse of office pass unaddressed.” A senior officer intimated.
Our source added: “There are those who have fronted proxies including their girlfriends to trade with Bomas of Kenya thus raising direct conflict of interest and fear being unmasked.”
In some of our previous exposee, The Informer unraveled how suspicious payouts have raised eyebrows pointing to a litany of shady dealings at the state owned facility.
The office the Finance Manager headed by Chief Accountant Nixon Mugilwa has been singled out in the alleged dubious payouts raised though vouchers.
Mugilwa could also not explain how money was drawn from the Bomas of Kenya account to pay air tickets for two ladies, both non-staff members who accompanied senior officials on a trip to Dubai in February this year.
In some instances, the payments are made through bankers’ cheques or Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) from the Bomas of Kenya bank account directly to the private accounts of the beneficiaries.
Questions have been raised how Gitaa Koria raised a doubtful 68 days per diem claim amounting to Sh418, 200 for a seminar he attended only for a day in Mombasa.
Gitaa made the claim through voucher A3824 and payment made through cheque number 023926.
By then, he was serving as the Acting General Manager at Bomas of Kenya before his confirmation in November 2020.
The seminar was held mid-2020 to review the Finance and Accounts department in Mombasa.
On the other hand, other flagged expenditures include Sh201, 560 paid to Mugilwa as per diem for a supposed training he attended in Mombasa amid fears he never showed up.
While reached for comment, Mugilwa did not respond to our questions sent via mail and as short text message.
Others include expenses paid vide voucher NO. A3904 paid through Cheque No. 023947 of Sh187, 150 dated 25/06/202, voucher NO.A3902 paid through Cheque No.023945 of Sh139, 600 and voucher NO.A3888 paid through Cheque No.023942 of Sh263, 765.
Similarly, questions have been raised over authenticity of voucher NO.A3887 paid through Cheque No.023939 of Sh297, 680 and voucher NO.A3832 paid through Cheque No.023929 of Sh233,