Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has recently said that the government will not pay millers seeking to exploit the state over the subsidy that capped maize flour prices at Ksh100 per two-kilogramme packet.
Gachagua has recently revealed that the government had inherited a Ksh8 billion worth of pending bills from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, meant for the subsidy that ended in August.
According to the Rigathi Gachagua, some of the millers and suppliers took advantage of the transition period and colluded with state officials to try and swindle taxpayers’ money.
“We will not pay bills without verification. They are telling us they have pending bills of Ksh8 billion yet nobody ever saw the unga. It was all theft – a few traders colluding with a few government officials took advantage of the subsidy,” he stated.
The DP disclosed that officers had been instructed to scrutinize the invoices submitted and compare them with the supplies made to retailers before remitting payments. He further sounded a warning to all those who tried to con the state.
“The bills must be validated because these are public funds. Officers must be convinced that public money was used in the right way before they can pay, that I can assure you.
“The inspection validation and auditing will be done in a thorough manner and if they are genuine, they will be paid, if they are not, of course, they are consequences,” Gachagua vowed.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continued his attacks on former president Uhuru for taking advantage of the food crisis to campaign for his preferred candidate – Azimio flagbearer, Raila Odinga.
