A forensic audit was requested for Meru Polytechnic due to the disappearance of Sh120 million.
Following the purported loss of Sh120 million as a result of payroll irregularities brought on by a malfunctioning Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, members of parliament have requested a forensic audit of Meru National Polytechnic.
After learning that some workers were receiving triple salaries and others were sharing identification information, the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, which is headed by Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami, is now considering charging the people who were accountable.
During a meeting with Chief Principal Secretary Anderson Mutembei, who seemed to be reacting to Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report, members of parliament labeled the situation as fraudulent and promised to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. The institution continues to pay an annual maintenance cost of Sh800,000 even though the Sh12 million system is broken.
“We must perform a forensic audit of this system,” said Committee Vice-Chairman Anthony Kibagendi. “There are several procurement issues. We want the institution and auditor general to reconcile everything and submit a report within two weeks.”
Mutembei was asked by Kibagendi to bring former principals, system suppliers, certified bank statements of those receiving many payments, the signed contract, and all senior managers to the following meeting.
When data was entered manually, the amount of money lost and the source of the mistakes were questioned by Moses Kirima, the IMenti MP. Kakai Bisau, the Kiminini MP, asked how one employee was paid via several bank accounts.
Serious problems were brought to light by the audit report: 143 workers with dubious contracts, including one for 33 years, 17 employees with questionable birthdates (some under 18 years old), and four employees with missing or duplicate KRA PINs.
Additionally, an officer assigned to a lower position but still earning a larger income received Sh1.4 million.
Mutembei defended the organization, asserting that although some mistakes, like dates of birth, were fixed, other procedures reverted to manual systems.
“These errors were corrected. The system has given us massive problems, which is why we’re procuring a new ERP system,” he said, admitting the system’s flaws.
