Youth secretary gets key job as Joho drops Khalid

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has dismissed the county’s finance executive, Mr Walid Khalid, following his impeachment by the county assembly last Thursday.

In a statement to the Nation on Thursday, Mr Joho said he had appointed the Youth, Gender and Sports executive, Ms Hazel Koitaba, to hold the position in an acting capacity.

“I have dismissed Mr Walid from the Finance docket following his impeachment by the county assembly in accordance with section 40 (6b) of the County Government Act,” said the governor. “I have appointed Ms Koitaba on acting capacity to head the finance department with immediate effect.”
On Thursday, Ms Koitaba welcomed Mr Joho’s decision appointing her to head the influential docket.

The Youth executive said she had what it takes to transform the Finance department since she has a business administration degree from an Australian university.

ALLEGATIONS OF INCOMPETENCE

“I am qualified for the position. I will do what I can to ensure that the county’s funds are managed well for the benefit of Mombasa residents,” she told the Nation.

Last week, members of the Mombasa County assembly approved a motion seeking to impeach Mr Khalid over allegations of incompetence and abuse of office.

Budget and Appropriation Committee chairman Saad Faraj, who moved the motion, had also alleged that Mr Walid had acted in breach of the Constitution.

Mr Faraj said the Finance executive had failed to prepare and submit consolidated financial reports to the county assembly for the first, second and third quarter of the 2013/2014 financial year as required by section 166(4) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

He had also failed to issue circular guidelines on budget preparation by August 30 last year. Mr Khalid was also accused of failing to prepare the county budget review and outlook paper and the annual development plan.

FIRST-CLASS AIR TICKETS

The other accusation was that he had failed to prepare and submit a cash-flow statement to the Controller of Budget for the 2014/2015 financial year.

He also allegedly failed to appoint receivers of county revenues as required by section 158 and 159 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

Mr Faraj told the county assembly that Mr Khalid also abused office by taking more than Sh300,000 at the banking hall without approval from the accounting officers and that he had bought first-class air tickets for his local and international trips, whereas other executive committee members travelled in economy class.

Members heard that Mr Khalid violated the Constitution by giving a waiver on county fees and charges amounting to Sh100 million without seeking the approval of the county assembly.

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

The assembly also heard that he failed to submit a supplementary budget to the assembly for approval of expenditures that were not appropriated in the financial year 2013/2014 amounting to Sh250 million.

“I hereby urge the assembly to appoint a committee to investigate the matter as per section 40 of the County Government Act of 2012,” he said.

Kongowea ward representative Jabess Oduor demanded that Mr Walid resign to pave the way for the investigations.

The deputy Speaker directed members to constitute a five-member committee to investigate Mr Walid after 36 members approved his impeachment. He also directed that nominated county representative Mohamed Hatimy spearhead the investigations.

Efforts to reach Mr Khalid for comment were futile because he did not answer calls by the Nation team.

Last week, Mombasa County Assembly Majority Leader Khamis Mwabashiri was also replaced by Likoni ward representative Abdalla Kasagamba after he was impeached by members over incompetence.