Addressing journalists at the NACADA offices on Monday, the celebrated musician claimed that a firm mandated to investigate misappropriation of funds was illegally used to disburse funds to Non-Governmental Organisations. Photo/ MIKE KARIUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 – Musician Jaguar has threatened to quit the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) board in two weeks if Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, and investigating agencies fail to address massive corruption plaguing the authority.
Jaguar, whose real name is Charles Njagua Kanyi claims he has been asked to join the cartels embezzling taxpayers’ money after he raised concerns.
Addressing journalists at the NACADA offices on Monday, the celebrated musician claimed that a firm mandated to investigate misappropriation of funds was illegally used to disburse funds to Non-Governmental Organisations.
“The levels of corruption at NACADA are too high to the extent that when I reported to the board, I was informed that the mode of operation is either ‘you quit or turn a blind eye and be part’ to the ongoing massive corruption,” he alleged.
He lamented over what he termed as “the level of disregard to the laws of the country and daylight robbery of public funds by both the top management of NACADA and the Finance Committee of the board.”
NACADA Chairman John Mututho has made similar claims saying NACADA lost Sh99 million through misappropriation and even went ahead to suspend the Chief Executive Officer and five other officials, but was later overruled by the Board of Directors.
Jaguar said the entire management in NACADA fails to meet integrity standards saying it should be overhauled if the war against alcohol and drug abuse is going to be won.
Among the irregularities he highlighted include alleged withdrawal of over Sh500 million without the board’s approval by NACADA management which was allegedly used for the advocacy against alcohol and drug abuse.
He further claimed that the authority has funded non-existent, illegal and deregistered NGOs leading to massive loss of public funds.
“The CEO has been approving payments online without physical documents and signed the documents later,” he protested.
Also in the list of his grievances was the alleged illegal extension of the CEO’s term without the board’s approval.
If nothing is done in two weeks, he threatened that he will “have no other option but to resign from the Board of Directors at NACADA to show commitment towards supporting the president in his fight against corruption.”
READ: Row brews at NACADA as board overrules Mututho
Last week, NACADA Vice Chairperson Gladys Nasieku while admitting already there were ongoing investigations over the alleged massive corruption, accused Mututho of disregarding operational procedures and systems by issuing personal statements.
“The board takes this early opportunity to distance and disassociate itself from press reports appearing in the media on June 19 and 20, 2015. We wish to categorically state that these sentiments did not emanate from a board resolution as required by the NACADA Act and principles of good governance,” she stated.
The ‘unbecoming behaviour by the chairman’, she said had caused undue stress and discomfort within the organisation.
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