The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has today

met the management of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to consider queries raised by the Auditor General in the Agency's financial books from Financial Year 2012/2013 to 2019/2020.

The Committee Chaired by Pokot South MP Hon. David Pkosing sought KFS's response on among other queries; illegal encroachments into forest land, unaccounted for flight operation and maintenance costs, unsupported special operations expenditures, concerns on the Agency's inability to meet its financial obligations and lack of land valuation reports and title deeds.

The Committee noted that the Auditor General queried  suspected illegal payments of Ksh 1.7million and an additional Ksh 2.6million paid to casuals without any documentary evidence. On this matter, Hon. Pkosing directed  KFS to provide evidence for the payments within two weeks."We are giving you two weeks to provide that evidence to this Committee. We have to get to the bottom of this,"  he said.  

Other queries that were discussed included long outstanding debts owed to KFS by other Government agencies, controversial sale of commercial plantations and; suspect expenditures arising from tree planting exercises, road maintenance and refined fuel spendings.

Committee Members present were Vice-Chair Hon. Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Hon. Ronald Karauri (Kasarani) Hon. Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Hon. Marianne Kitany (Aldai), Hon. Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga County) , Hon. Sarah Korere (Laikipia North), Hon. Paul Katana (Kaloleni) and Hon.Charo Tungule (Ganze).