Economy
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 21:46
By GALGALLO FAYO
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Erik Solheim resigned after an audit report revealed that he spent millions of shillings on unnecessary and unbudgeted travel expenses.
Mr Solheim, who in September said the audit was not an investigation, announced on Tuesday that he had decided to resign after receiving the final report on Saturday.
Mr Solheim incurred $488,519 (Sh49.9 million) in travel expenses between May 2016 and March 2018, spent 529 days of his 22 months as head of UNEP globetrotting “resulting in an absence rate from his duty station of 79 per cent”.
He travelled extensively around the world, visiting top cities such as Paris and his home country Norway.
“For this reason, after deep reflection and in close consuation with the secretary general, I am stepping down as executive director of UNEP with effect from November 22,” said Mr Solheim in a statement addressed to staff.
The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which conducted the audit, recommended that Mr Solheim should refund “all travel costs and related staff…
