Kirinyaga County spent millions not approved by assembly
Kirinyaga County Governor Joseph Ndathi when he took the oath of office. His county government has been accused of spending millions of shillings that had not been approved by the County Assembly. The County Assembly Maority Leader John Waruri has demanded that the county government be held responsible for spent money. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- According to the majority leader John Waruri, the report by the Controller of Budget on the lavish spending by the counties was accurate.
- The majority leader who is also the county representative for Kanyekiini ward said the money included Sh12million which was used to renovate the County Assembly.
- County executives and governors found to have embezzled devolved funds risk imprisonment and hefty fines.
The Sh51 million so far spent by the Kirinyaga County Government on development had not been approved by the County Assembly.
According to the majority leader John Waruri, the report by the Controller of Budget on the lavish spending by the counties was accurate.
"It is true the money which was spent by our devolved government was not approved by Members of the County Assembly," he admitted.
Mr Waruri said the money for capital expenditure was secretly withdrawn by county government officials and spent.
"We are very upset because the money which has already been spent on development was not discussed in the House and endorsed by us," he told the press in Kerugoya town Friday.
The majority leader who is also the county representative for Kanyekiini ward said the money included Sh12million which was used to renovate the County Assembly.
Mr Waruri claimed that even the money spent on the renovation was inflated.
"The cost of renovating the Assembly was exaggerated. The work done is even shoddy and couldn't have cost cost Sh12million," he said.
ACCOUNT FOR MONEY
He said the devolved government should be made to account for the money adding that it was illegal to use devolved funds that had not been passed by the House.
He said the Public Accounts Committee will summon a member of the county government committee in charge of Finance and the county interim secretary to explain the circumstances under which the money was withdrawn and spent.
"These officials must be grilled. They must appear before PAC and if they fail to do so we shall move a censure motion against them," he said.
The Controller of Budget Ms Agness Odhiambo has released a shocking report on lavish spending by the counties.
The quarterly report compiled by Ms Odhiambo says Kirinyaga was among the 23 counties which spent millions of shillings without the approval by their county assemblies contrary to the Public Finance Management Act,, 2012.
County executives and governors found to have embezzled devolved funds risk imprisonment and hefty fines.
Meanwhile Kirinyaga residents are up in arms demanding to know how their money was used.
"We would like to know what was bought with the money and with whose authority," one of the residents said.
They vowed to fight until the truth on on how the money was spent was established.
