DPP orders probe into use of funds at the Judiciary

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has directed that investigations be conducted into the management of funds at the Judiciary.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the DPP said he had received reports from a whistle blower and the media questioning the management of funds allocated to the judiciary.

“Upon receipt of the reports, the DPP consulted with the Chief Justice who raised similar concerns. Consequently, the DPP has directed investigations to commence immediately by both the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC),” reads part of the statement.

The DPP noted that the investigations will centre on an internal audit report that established there were fraudulent activities in revenue management at the Milimani Law Courts that led to loss of Ksh.36 million. The report was for the period between January 2016 and December 2017.

Also to be scrutinised is a Ksh.808 million medical insurance contract that was awarded by the Judiciary in 2015 but was later cancelled in October 2016.

Two security contracts awarded to a local security company in 2015.

“The two contracts were renewed without following procurement procedures and regulations,” said the DPP.

This comes two weeks after Chief Justice David Maraga protested a move by Members of Parliament to reduce the Judiciary budget.

In a press address on Tuesday July 24, Justice Maraga warned that the budget cut would adversely affect critical programmes of the judiciary.

“We wish to inform the public that while we shall continue doing our best to deliver justice to Kenyans, judicial services will this year be severely affected as a result of the budget cuts. Please bear with us,” he said.

Maraga said the Judiciary had sought a budget of Ksh.31.2 billion but the Treasury’s Budgetary Policy Statement capped it at Ksh.17.3 billion, an mount that Parliament reduced to Ksh.14.5 billion.

The DPP directed the investigative agencies to file progress reports on the investigations after every 21 days until conclusion of the probe.