BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Several employees at the Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate corruption claims against the organization’s acting Chief Executive Officer Charles Nyawade.
MESPT is funded by Denmark through its international development arm-DANIDA.
Nyawade has been acting CEO since May 2018 to date.
He also doubles as the Head of Finance.
“He was promoted in May 2018 following an earlier appraisal. He un-procedurally backdated his salary to January 2018 and paid himself a higher salary which is more than the starting salary for heads of departments as per MESPT HR policy.” Said an employee who requested anonymity.
Nyawade’s current pay has been harmonized with other heads of departments who had served for two years as heads of departments before their current salary increment.
The source disclosed that it is not clear why Nyawade has not been held accountable after MESPT board of trustees discovered loss of funds at the donor funded entity after an audit.
In 2018, the -then CEO Priscilla Gathiga was sacked over graft.
This was after close to Ksh 40 million was lost following two tenders to establish a call center and consultancy for Green Growth Technical Facility.
“He was and still is a person of interest since he not only signed some of the tender documents that were awarded fraudulently but went ahead to process payments as the Finance Manager knowing very well MESPT received no value for money.” the source said.
Surprisingly, Nyawade allegedly went ahead to initiate disciplinary processes against some members of staff soon he was made acting C.E.O.
He gave them “show cause” letters.
Nyawade has also been accused of using his native language (mother tongue) to communicate at work.
In his response to the accusations, he just smiled at the Hot News Reporter adding “all these issues are in court.”
He did not clarify which of the issues were in court and who has moved to court.
In a clear case of fraud, emails in our possession show how Nyawade ignored his colleagues who said a contractor hired to upgrade the ICT system bypassed their departments but he went ahead to pay for the system upgrade that was never done.
“I never filled the User Assessment Test for my department, a vital document that every user must sign to confirm that the contractor has accomplished a given assignment before payment can be processed.” the source told Hot News.
When reached for comment, the ICT contractor Nicholas Oyalo of Navision System said he has no comment on the queries.
In a bid to discipline several staff, Nyawade and the ICT contractor allegedly “framed” several staff on allegations of asking for kickbacks.
The Staff denied asking for kickbacks from contractors.
Nyawade is said to be enjoying protection from the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi as well as a caretaker board of trustees appointed by the embassy since July 2019.
A previous board was dissolved in February.
On January 29, 2019, Nyawade started a 30 days terminal leave since his contract was coming to an end in February.
In a shocking move just before the end of his leave days, he was allegedly recalled by the Embassy and reported to work.
Danish Ambassador to Kenya H.E Mette Knudsen met MESPT staff at MESPT head office in Westlands immediately Nyawade resumed and told them he would continue to be the acting CEO.
Nyawade has been an acting CEO for one and a half years contrary to the dictates of good corporate governance.
“It is not healthy to have one person as the acting C.E.O and head of finance for this long in an organization that relies on donor funding.” Said our source.