Former ICT, Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru joined the list of former government officials summoned by MPs on Thursday, March 16, over the Ksh6 billion Telkom buyout saga.

Departmental Committee on Finance members directed Mucheru to appear before the committee between March 20 and 24 to shed light on the Telkom Kenya buyout.

Besides Mucheru, the MPs also summoned former National Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia over the deal that the lawmakers probed.

Other Telkom Kenya bosses and stakeholders will further appear before the committee when the hearing resumes.

Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru playing golf.

KBC

“While deliberating on the way forward on the inquiry, the Joint-Committee resolved that every person, agency, or company mentioned as the inquiry continues, will be summoned to appear before them to provide their witness’ statements,” the committee’s statement read in part.

The legislators will also meet the management of Jamhuri Holdings and a UK-based private equity fund, Helios Investment Partners, mentioned as being at the centre of the transaction.

Mucheru joined former Treasury CS Ukur Yatani and former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, summoned by lawmakers.

“On Wednesday (next week) at 2.30 pm, we have sent an invitation to Ambassador Ukur Yatani, the former Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, who authorised all these transactions. The same day at 4.30 pm, we have invited Julius Muia, the former Treasury PS,” Molo MP Kuria Kimani. Also, the chairman of the Finance Committee stated.

Also lined up for appearance included former Solicitor General Ken Ogeto.

In her submission, controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o indicated that the government had a deadline of July 29 to pay the money for it to fully acquire Telkom, after which the deal would be null and void. 

She was put to task over her approval for the National Treasury to withdraw money from public coffers to complete the transaction without MPs’ approval.

The budget controller was put to task over her approval for the National Treasury to withdraw money from public coffers to complete the transaction without the approval of Parliament. 

During the hearing, it was alleged that senior government officials in the former regime oversaw the transaction of the Ksh6 billion days before the 2022 General Election without seeking approval from the relevant offices. 

Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani poses for a photo with the famous budget briefcase outside parliament buildings on Thursday, April 7,2022.

National Treasury