The auditor general’s report for the financial years ended 31st December 2021 and 2022 has exposed the Food Reserve Agency – FRA’s failure to discipline its members of staff who were found to be involved in maize and soya beans stock theft valued at over K2 million.
According to the AG’s report, a review of the 2022 Annual Stocktake Report showed that there were negative variances of maize and Soya beans Stocks and empty grain bags valued at over K2 million.
The stocktake report attributed the negative variance to theft, unaccounted-for stock, and under-delivery by suppliers.
And according to the AG’s report, FRA management in their response to the the negative variance, submitted that the suspected theft cases of maize and soya beans were reported to police and once investigations were concluded, cases were either advanced to courts for litigation or disposed of accordingly in their response dated 9th October 2023.
The report further revealed that FRA also submitted in their response to the negative variance that in cases where members of staff were found to be involved in stock theft, administrative disciplinary action was taken.
But according to the AG report, no evidence of the said disciplinary action was availed for audit by FRA.
“A review of the 2022 Annual Stocktake Report revealed that there were negative variances of maize and Soya beans Stocks and empty grain bags costing K2, 054,480. The negative variance was attributed to theft, unaccounted-for stock, and under-delivery by suppliers. However in their response dated 9th October 2023, management submitted that suspected theft cases were reported to police and once investigations were concluded, cases were either advanced to courts for litigation or disposed of accordingly. In cases where members of staff were found to be involved, administrative disciplinary action was taken. However, as of 30th September 2023, no evidence of the said action was availed for audit,” revealed the report.
