NAIROBI Kenya – The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, chaired by Benard Shinali (Ikolomani), has resolved to summon the Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards(KEBS) over claims that the agency may have lost Sh430 million through forgery and falsification of documents.
This decision was made today after KEBS MD Esther Ngari failed to appear before the Committee to shed light on the allegations of financial impropriety at the institution.
The allegations of the loss of funds were contained in a whistle-blower letter authored by a section of staff at the agency.
Apart from forgery and falsifying documents, the whistle-blowers claim that there are unprocedural purchases, payments, and employment at the institution and importation of contaminated rice, among others.
Ms Ngari was first invited to appear before the House Team on March 27, 2025.
However, in a letter to the Committee, she explained that she was out of the country for an official and requested to appear today, Monday, April 7, 2025.
She, however, failed to honour her word and did not send a communication to the committee or members about her whereabouts, a matter that riled the MPs.
” It’s unfortunate that the KEBS MD Esther Ngari failed to show up and explain herself to Kenyansin regards to the allegations facing the agency, ” said the Committee Chairperson. “As a House Team, we have resolved that she should be summoned to appear before this committee over the grave allegations,” added Hon Shinali.
The Committee boss said that an invitation will be sent to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, and the PS in charge of Industry, Juma Mukhwana, to accompany Ms Ngari and clear the air over the matter.
MP Shinali and Committee Vice Chairperson Marianne Kitany led other MPs in berating the KEBS top boss for failing to appear before them.
They noted that issues such as the importation of contaminated rice is a matter of national importance and should not be trivialized by anyone since it touches the very livelihoods of Kenyans.
“We shall not just sit and watch as Kenya becomes a dumping ground for substandard and contaminated good. It is sad that the Management of KEBS doesn’t care for the Health of Kenyans,” said Shinali.
“KEBS is a public entity that ensures Kenyans are protected as they consume goods and services in the country. The MD ought to have at least appeared before us to respond to the serious allegations. Kenyans need to know if they are safe consuming what they are consuming,” said Kitany.
“We have no other option but compel her to appear before this committee for failing to honour the invitation, according to the law,” she added.
MPs Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula), Robert Gichimu (Gichugu), Samuel Parashina (Kajiado South), Joshua Mwalyo (Masinga), and Alfred Mutai also echoed similar sentiments, noting that it was disrespectful of the KEBS boss to fail to appear before the Committee, despite sending indication that she will do so.
“Any person refusing to attend an invitation to Parliament commits a breach of the law and actually is against the provisions of the Standing Orders. This is contempt and disrespect to the institution of Parliament” said Oundo.
” For the MD to fail to show up despite assuring us that she will do so is very unfortunate. Actually, it’s a very grievous disregard to Parliament, because this committee is an extension of Parliament, ” observed Gichimu
