Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has raised concern over the discovery and subsequent disappearance of Sh500 million in cash allegedly linked to the substandard fuel saga, terming the circumstances highly suspicious and inconsistent with legitimate financial practices.
She called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to account for the missing funds, noting that any money seized as evidence must be properly documented and produced in court.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, she questioned the very presence of such a large amount of money in a private residence, arguing that legitimate transactions are conducted through formal banking systems.
“Money goes to the bank, and if you're holding that kind of money in your house, that means it's money that you've acquired suspiciously,” she said. “Because if you're doing a transaction with anyone, whether it's a legitimate transaction, the money will hit your bank. It will not come to your house.”
She added that the circumstances surrounding the cash already raise red flags, even before its reported disappearance.
“For me, the fact that it was in the house already is suspect… now the fact that it's disappeared,” she said, calling for immediate accountability from investigators.
Passaris emphasized that if the funds were seized as part of an investigation, then the authorities must explain their whereabouts and ensure they are presented in court as evidence.
“If it was an exhibit, they have to produce it in court,” she stated, adding that the officers involved must be held accountable for any lapse.
Drawing from a past experience, the legislator cited a case involving confiscated goods by Nairobi County officials to illustrate the principle of accountability. She recounted how a trader’s goods worth Sh70,000 went missing after being seized, and authorities were compelled to compensate her.
“The book shows you received… now there are no shoes, so somebody stole the shoes. I said you’re going to find the shoes or you’re going to pay her—and they paid her,” Passaris explained.
She argued that the same standard should apply in the current case, regardless of the amount involved. “Here we have 500 million. If it was illegal, then it should belong to the assets recovery… for the public,” she said, referencing the role of the Assets Recovery Agency.
While noting that the matter is now under active investigation, Passaris said oversight bodies may have limited immediate intervention but can still demand answers.
She suggested that relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Energy, could be called upon to explain how the situation arose and outline measures to prevent a recurrence.