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Members of Parliament (MPs) have now summoned former Agriculture Cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua to shed light on maize importation in the country after it emerged that the government has so far spent Sh 48.8 billion to import maize between 2016 and 2018.

The MPs, who sit in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), were shocked to learn that despite the importation of the maize, the ministry of agriculture which was undertaking the exercise was unable to provide crucial documentation to prove that the maize actually were brought into the country.

Interestingly, out of the Sh 48.8 billion, Sh 8 billion cannot be traced as crucial documents to support the expenditure had gone missing and could not be traced by the Ministry.

The Sh48.8 billion comprises of Sh 37.2 billlion spent in the 2017/2018 financial year and Sh 11.6 spent in the 2016/2017 financial year.

PAC Chairperson Opiyo Wandayi said: “ in the 2017/2018 financial year, you spent Sh 37.2 billion and in 2016/2017 you spent Sh11.6 billion worth of maize imports , out of which Sh8 billion as of now remains unaccounted for and nobody can tell where it came from, who brought and at what cost. This is not pocket money. Its a lot of money.”

Added: “Due to this as a committee, we have resolved to summon former CS Mwangi Kiunjuri because this matter involves policy issues as well as Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua because he is the one who chaired the task force that was involved with the importation.”