Account for El Niño funds, Nakuru senator tells Governor Kinuthia Mbugua
Nakuru senator Mr James Mungai (right) distributes copies of a county social audit report on November 27, 2015. The senator wants Governor Kinuthia Mbugua to account for Sh500 million set aside in preparation for El Niño rains. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He said people were being displaced despite the governor assuring MCAs and the Senate that measures had been put in place and a committee formed to deal with flooding.
- He accused the county government of negligence and incompetent supervision of a department that resulted in a Sh9 million income tax penalty by KRA.
- On Friday last week, the senator raised concerns about development, management of funds and the state of hospitals.
- Mr Mungai said the governor and his team failed to sufficiently respond to queries arising from the auditor-general’s report.
The battle for supremacy between Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and Senator James Mungai continued Tuesday with the latter accusing the county government of witch-hunt and misuse of funds.
Senator Mungai questioned the county government’s spending of Sh500 million set aside in preparation for El Niño rains.
He said people were being displaced despite the governor assuring MCAs and the Senate that measures had been put in place and a committee formed to deal with flooding.
“It is shocking that the governor and his deputy are questioning my concerns on the way resources are spent,” he said.
Mr Mungai was reacting to criticism by Mr Mbugua and his deputy Joseph Ruto.
NEGLIGENT AND INCOMPETENT
He accused the county government of negligence and incompetent supervision of a department that resulted in a Sh9 million income tax penalty by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
In a four-page statement, Mr Mungai dismissed the county government’s explanation that the penalty was because the national government delayed to release funds.
“Those responsible could have explained themselves to KRA. Is it possible that delays in disbursement only affected Nakuru?” he asked.
Mr Mungai said there were many issues in the county administration that raise questions going by the recent auditor-general’s report.
On Friday last week, the senator raised concerns about development, management of funds and the state of hospitals.
Mr Ruto convened a press conference on the same day, calling Mr Mungai a stranger in Nakuru County.
Mr Ruto said the claims were false, insisting that some of the issues raised had been addressed before the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Mungai said the governor and his team failed to sufficiently respond to queries arising from the auditor-general’s report.
He dismissed Mr Ruto’s claims that he was an outsider and accused the governor and his deputy of engaging in a smear campaign against anyone who demanded openness and accountability from his government.
