Ann Njeri: Businesswoman In KSh 17b Oil Saga At Pains To Prove Payment For Consignment

• Businesswoman Ann Njeri finally appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Energy over the controversial KSh 17 billion oil cargo
• The businesswoman declined to provide evidence to show she paid for the consignment that the government said belonged to Galana Energies
• During the interrogation, the controversial businesswoman confessed that she had never traded in the oil business in Kenya before

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Businesswoman Anne Njeri has been taken to task to prove the ownership of the contentious KSh 17 billion oil consignment.

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Energy on Wednesday, December 20, Njeri was in pain to convince the MPs that she was the rightful owner of the contested cargo.

Why did Ann Njeri import the oil?

The committee sought to know the origin of the oil, how she paid for it, and prove that she followed the law in importing the oil.

In her surprise response, the controversial businesswoman admitted that she had never traded in the importation of oil into Kenya before.

According to Njeri, she only decided to import the KSh 17 billion in oil after learning of the fuel shortage in the country while in Dubai.

After learning of the fuel shortage in the country, Njeri went ahead and ordered the oil, for which she paid KSh 17 billion to a Russian dealer even without having the required documentation like an importation licence.

"It is my humble submission that I procured this fuel for sale in any country in East Africa. As an upstream trader, I do not need a licence to deliver fuel CIF to a customer who has a licence to operate in their jurisdiction," Njeri told the MPs.

Why Ann Njeri refused to provide evidence of payment

The businesswoman declined to provide evidence to show that she paid KSh 17 billion, insisting that the documents were private and confidential.

“I have the swift codes to prove that I paid for the oil. However, they are not for the public. I can only show them to the chair of the committee,” stated Njeri, who said the payments were done through a bank transfer from a bank based in Dubai.

What was MP Oscar Sudi's role in the scandal?

Earlier, the woman at the centre of the KSh 17 billion imported oil consignment added a new twist to the ongoing saga.

Speaking to Citizen TV, the embattled businesswoman dragged the name of Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi into the now-controversial oil deal.

The businesswoman said she met with Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and MP Sudi on November 8 at Chirchir's office.

According to Njeri, she was introduced to the two leaders by a person identified as Jeremiah Serem, who assured her that the duo were in a position to help.

Njeri claimed Serem allegedly informed her that Sudi was holding a briefing for the 'high office' and was expected to report back to the unnamed boss on the deliberations of the meeting.