Eyebrows raised over massive graft, spending in counties

Auditor-General Edward Ouko on June 25, 2015. He has exposed possible fraud running into more than Sh200 million in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) expenditure from over 30 constituencies. FILE PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |

What you need to know:

  • Ouko pushes for recovery of Sh5m paid to leaders.
  • 33 Nyamira MCAs and speaker paid total of Sh340,000 for lunch when they met over Bill.

Massive corruption and excessive spending have been captured by Auditor-General Edward Ouko in his report on county governments and assemblies.

The document shows how members of county assemblies occasionally blackmail governors to pass vital laws sponsored by the executive.

The auditor has noted excessive spending in several counties, including Nyamira, Homa Bay, Garissa, Kisii and Kitui.

In Nyamira, the office of the governor at one point paid 33 MCAs and the speaker Sh10,000 each for lunch as they discussed the Finance Bill.

“Expenditure records at the governor’s office revealed that a total of Sh340,000 was paid to 33 MCAs and the speaker in lunch allowances while deliberating on the Finance Bill,” says the report.

“This was not based on any criteria as the officers were at their work station. This was over and above the approved rate, which is 15 per cent of the accommodation allowance applicable to an officer.”

The report also questions the expenditure of Sh560,000 entered as meal allowances by members of the Nyamira County Public Service Board.

“The members were carrying out their normal duties for which they are employed, hence the lunch allowances were not justified,” says the report.

The auditor also raised questions over unsurrendered imprests and irregular procurement, all valued at Sh500 million.

WENT SHOPPING

Mr Ouko now wants the 33 Nyamira MCAs surcharged and more than Sh5 million paid to them in transport and night-out allowances during a trip to Mombasa in 2013 recovered from them.

In Homa Bay, MCAs were given Sh200,000 each to procure furniture for their ward offices.

The report reveals how laid-down procurement procedures were ignored as MCAs went shopping from local supermarkets.

“Procurement regulations were not followed. In addition, there was no evidence produced to confirm that the furniture was recorded in the assets register,” the report states.

The document also reveals how the MCAs made double claims for accommodation and travel allowances amounting to Sh1.3 million. The leaders claimed they were in Mombasa from March 18 to 24, while they were, at the same time, attending a county assembly forum at the ACK Guest House in Homa Bay.

There are also queries over Sh100,000 paid through bank accounts to each of the 40 MCAs. It is described as a mobilisation fund.

On the Kisii County Assembly, the auditor has raised questions on irregular procurement, unsupported payment of allowances and questionable recruitment of staff, among other issues.

“Analysis of the county payroll for the 12 months under review revealed that MCAs were paid sitting allowances totalling Sh78,815,200. However, Sh23,104,000 was paid without corroboration of the attendance register and minutes,” says the report.

The auditor has also raised eyebrows over the varying of the tender value for the construction of executive offices, committee rooms and county canteen, initially valued at Sh47.9 million but raised to Sh54.6 million.

In Garissa, the county government is on the spot over Sh9.6 million spent on leasing seven ambulances, each at Sh600,000 per month.

“It was observed that procurement procedures were not duly followed in the leasing of the Red Cross ambulances,” the report states.

County audit reports continue tomorrow