NAKURU, Kenya, Dec, 10 – The National Youth Service ( NYS) has finished verifying pending bills it owes numerous suppliers, with emerging details indicating that Sh1B vouchers are fake.
The cabinet secretary Ministry of Public Service and Gender Prof Margaret Kobia revealed that there was an elaborate attempt by unscrupulous businessmen to fleece the government billions of shillings.
Kobia who presided over the admission of 7 thousand new NYS recruits in Gilgil, Nakuru county however revealed that vouchers worth Sh15B have been cleared and will be paid in the coming months after years of waiting.
Hundreds of traders have for years complained to the ministry, while demanding payment for services rendered.
It is a long wait that has seen some declared bankrupt.
The pending bills are said to have accumulated between 2013-2017 when the public institution was lacing public criticism over widespread corruption scandals.
“We have worked with EACC and we have verified that vouchers worth Sh15B are valid and we shall start paying,” said Kobia.
The CS did not however reveal when they will pay the entrepreneurs their money.
Individuals who presented the fake vouchers have been asked to present themselves before investigating authorities before the law catches up with them.
Meanwhile, NYS Director General Matilda Sakwa has called for the immediate disbursement of funds to the institution which she said remains underfunded.
“In this financial year we have not been allocated any development funds and this will affect operations in our 23 training units and 17 schools,” said Sakwa.
The COVID-19 pandemic is said to have adversely affected the institution following a drop in their revenues.
They however expressed their optimism of bouncing back in the near future.
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