Investigators have summoned more than 40 people for questioning after a “massive theft of public funds” at the National Youth Service (NYS).
Reports indicate that Sh10 billion was stolen through fictitious invoices, and multiple payments on one supplier invoice.
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The reports have dismayed many Kenyans, particularly as it follows another scam at the agency, which is supposed to equip the young with key skills and help create jobs, back in 2015.
DCI Director George Kinoti told Reuters on Sunday that his organisation had summoned government officials and business people who had been paid by the agency for supplying various goods and services, calling the issue a “scam” and a “fraud”.
“It is massive theft of public funds,” he said, without giving an exact figure for the lost funds.
“Our aim is to have anybody who is involved in theft of public funds to answer and if possible to return what they have stolen from the public.”
Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lillian Omollo
and Director General Richard Ndubai stepped aside on Friday for a period of three months.
They are the two officers directly responsible for the functions of the service in the period under investigations.
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The investigation by the DCI is expected to be concluded "within three, four, five days,", Kinoti said.
"You will see us in court,” he added.
Ndubai and Omollo were not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, James Tembur has been appointed the acting officer in charge of the agency pending administrative reorganisation.
The announcement was made on Saturday by Margaret Kobia, who is the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs ministry.
Despite pledges when he was first elected in 2013 to crack down on corruption, critics say President Uhuru Kenyatta has been slow to pursue top officials, adding that only big-name convictions will break what they call a culture of impunity.
Uhuru has blamed lethargy on the part of some government agencies tasked with fighting corruption for the slow progress.
There have not been any significant convictions of the people involved in the theft of funds at the NYS in 2015 despite several prosecutions taking place in court.