Samburu on the spot for misuse of funds

What you need to know:

  • The county is also accused of paying bursary funds totalling Sh867,825 to needy students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions without vetting the beneficiaries.

Samburu County has been put on the spot over mismanagement of millions of shillings for development.

In its latest financial report, the auditor-general reveals that the county government did not officially take over the assets and liabilities of the former County Council of Samburu and the Town Council of Maralal until June 27, 2014.

The report indicates that bank accounts of the former local authorities were not closed and balances were not transferred to the county government revenue account by February 28, 2013.

This was the deadline set by the Transition Authority but the funds were instead left open and managed by the former councils.

The report further reveals that Samburu County opened a standing imprest account at Kenya Commercial Bank on April 23, 2013, into which Sh299 million was deposited as of September 9, 2013.

It was observed that the cashbook was not updated and no bank reconciliations were prepared, which led to irregular withdrawals.

The county is also accused of paying bursary funds totalling Sh867,825 to needy students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions without vetting the beneficiaries.

And there were no acknowledgement letters from the learning institutions confirming receipt of the cash.

The report adds that on foreign trips alone the county assembly spent a total of Sh26 million.

The assembly organised a trip to the United States in June 2014 and Sh4 million was used on the trip which had a delegation of eight people.