National Youth Service Director-General Dr. Richard Ndubai is the latest sensation in town after the revelation of Sh9 billion scandal at the service.
He stepped down 10 days ago to pave way for investigations into the scandal.
However, on Sunday evening, he was rounded up by police and arrested before being locked up at the Muthaiga Police Station. Together with 17 others including PS Lilian Omollo, they are expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.
But who is Ndubai, the man in the eye of a raging corruption storm?
He was born in Kirinyaga County and attended Murang`a High School before joining the University of Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Accounting).
He is also a holder of a Ph.D. of Philosophy in Performance Contracting, Measurement and Public Service Delivery from the University of Nairobi.
He also has a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA.
Ndubai traces his professional track back in 1977 when he served as Sales Tax Inspector at the Ministry of Finance after graduating from the University of Nairobi.
He worked as a Senior Principal Inspector of State Corporations at Office of the President in 1982 a position which he served in for a while.
In 2002, he moved to the position of Principal Deputy Director of Personnel Management at Office of the President.
From 2008, he worked under the then Mwai Kibaki’s government as the Secretary, Performance Contracting at Office of the President before he was promoted to a Permanent Secretary Public Sector Reforms & Performance Contracting, Office of the Prime Minister.
By and large, his work in the office held by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga entailed administering and coordinating implementation of performance contracts in the public service.
Ndubai is the brainchild behind the introduction and implementation of performance contracts in the public service in Kenya in all state corporations, government ministries/accounting departments, local authorities/municipalities, and 71 tertiary institutions according to the Star.
The United Nations also tapped on his expertise where he worked with UNECA in partnership with the Government of Namibia to prepare performance contract between the President and Cabinet Ministers.
He also worked with UNDP consultancy assignment with the Government of Malawi on Measurement and Evaluation of Performance.
Under his belt, he boats of several State commendations; Chief of the Burning Spear (CBS, 2008), Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear of Kenya (MBS, 2007) and Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW, 2005).