Four governors are set to appear before Senators for interrogation over the mismanagement of millions of allocated funds after a report by the Office of the Auditor General.
The Office of the Auditor General through its 2022/23 financial audit report for County Governments exposed how the county heads have been mismanaging money disbursed as sharable revenue.
Auditor general Nancy Gathungu flagged several counties for flouting procurement laws and payment of nonexistent projects.
The latest audit report showed that some counties were paying for projects that were overpriced occasioning the loss of public funds.
Among the governors flagged include Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. Mwangaza is facing questions from the AG Gathungu over possible irregular payment of allowances to doctors, amounting to Ksh126 million.
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Additionally, the first-time governor is set to be interrogated for the payment of ineligible pending bills worth Ksh276 million.
Governors exposed
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi is also on the Auditor General’s radar over alleged irregular use of framework agreements on procurement.
Cheboi will also answer questions on medical supplies worth Ksh28 million Shillings that the Office of the Auditor General could not find supply records for.
Subsequently, Governor Cheboi and his team have been questioned over unauthorized expenditure of Ksh21 million on electricity, as well as irregularity in procurement of the services of a law firm.
Other concerns within the Baringo County government include irregular procurement of motor vehicles worth Ksh120 million.
On her part, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti will have to answer questions over a 12-storey building that her County allocated a total amount of Ksh399 million for.
Contrary to the said amount, the report revealed that the construction cost only Ksh230 million.
This means that Ndeti and her team will have to account for the extra expenditure of Ksh169 million.
Also Read: How Govt Lost Ksh67 B Through Fake Pension Schemes-Auditor General
The Machakos County chief further faces questions on pension payments worth Ksh178 million and Ksh100 million questionable payments to Saccos and loans.
Lastly, the Nancy Gathungu-led oversight office flagged Nyandarua County’s delayed projects worth Ksh96 million including a perimeter wall worth Ksh23 million done under Governor Kiarie Badilisha.
The Council of Governors was also thrown into the mix as the report flagged an irregular payment of Ksh5 million made to the Council by the County government of Nyandarua.
Following the exposé, the governors will be required to appear before the Senate’s oversight committees tasked with interrogating the audit reports.