MPs summon Kebs boss over alleged loss of Sh420 million

**Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director, Esther Ngari failed to appear before a National Assembly Committee to shed light on claims of claims of financial impropriety.** [File, Standard]

The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives has summoned Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director, Esther Ngari to shed light on alleged loss of about Sh420 million.

The committee chairperson, Benard Shinali on Monday said the decision was arrived at after Ngari failed to appear to respond to claims of financial impropriety that could have led to loss of the said millions of shillings through forgery and falsification of documents.

"It is unfortunate that the Kebs MD failed to show up and explain herself to Kenyans with regards to the allegations facing the agency. As a House team, we have resolved that she should be summoned to appear before this committee over the grave allegations," said Shinali.

Shinali also directed that an invite be sent to Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Industrialisation Principal Secretary, Juma Mukhwana to accompany Ngari to clear the air over the matter.

The Committee was irked by Ngari’s failure to appear to address importation of contaminated rice.

"We will not just sit here and watch as Kenya becomes a dumping ground for substandard and contaminated goods. It is sad that the management of Kebs seem not to care about the health of Kenyans," said Shinali.

The summonses come following whistle blowers’ revelation of alleged loss of funds at Kebs.

Aside from claims of forgery and falsification of documents, reports have indicated that the whistle-blowers have cited alleged un-procedural purchases, payments and employment at the agency and importation of contaminated rice, among others.

Ngari was first invited to appear before the Committee in March but she said she was out of the country on an official trip.

She requested to appear on Monday but skipped again and the committee was angered by her failure to notify them in good time.

The Committee Vice Chairperson Marianne Kitany, said that the Kebs boss should have appeared before the MPs to clear the air on the allegations levelled against the agency and food safety.

"Kebs is a public entity that ensures Kenyans are protected as they consume goods and services in the country. The MD ought to have appeared before us to respond to these serious allegations. Kenyans need to know if they are safe with what they are consuming," said Kitany.

"We have no other option but compel her to appear before this committee for failing to honour the invitation, according to the law," she added.

Other members of the committee termed Ngari's as disrespectful for failure to appear despite indicating that she would be available.