MPs ask Kinoti to probe stolen Jack Ma donations

Parliament wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to look into the loss of Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's donations, with the taxman ordered to audit 83 companies that won Covid-19 tenders. 

In a report on the inquiry into utilisation of Covid-19 funds, the MPs have given the Health ministry 30 days to submit a report on the status of the recovery of 21 packages that was not received from Ethiopia.

The inquiry team found that an unknown number of testing kits and protective gear donated by the Alibaba founder never landed in Kenya after they were dispatched from Ethiopia.

The Ministry of Transport, which was to clear a total of 697 quantities, said it received the goods at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) short of 21 packages. The committee also probed allegations that Covid-19 donations from Mr Ma and the Chinese government were stolen or diverted on arrival before it was sold to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa).

'No noise' 

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe told the committee that neither the Chinese government nor the Jack Ma Foundation has made any noise because they have determined nothing was stolen.

Mr Ma delivered the donations to 54 African nations through Ethiopian Airlines.

“The committee recommends that 30 days of the tabling of this report, the Health ministry submits to the National Assembly a report on the status of the recovery of 21 packages,” the committee chaired by Sabina Chege said.

The MPs also recommended that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) undertake an audit on all companies including the 83 that were awarded tenders by Kemsa to supply Covid-19 items to ascertain their tax compliance status.