Governor and senator clash over funds use

The battle between senators and governors continues in Nandi with the county government being accused of misusing billions meant for development.

Senator Stephen Sang said on Tuesday the county government could not account for Sh3.8 billion from the national government, a claim Governor Cleophas Lagat denied.

“The county government was allocated Sh3.477,901,827 by the Controller of Budget and the Treasury has released Sh1.947,625,023,” the governor said.

He said the rest of the money had not been disbursed while the county treasury had, by January, collected Sh71,090,350 as revenue, exceeding the target by Sh1.09 million.

“Senators are peddling falsehoods at public meetings that the county government turned a blind eye to corruption, resulting in the loss of Sh3.8 billion yet the county had not been allocated such money by the Controller of Budget.”

Dr Lagat said chief officers would be held accountable for all funds from the national government and warned corrupt officers they would be sacked.

“The County Government is committed to offering quality service to the public after swearing in chief officers,” the governor said.

He told off critics who claim the county government allowed public funds to be abused, saying all the money had been accounted for.

Some of it was used to pay salaries, he said, noting that the county had not been mentioned adversely in the Auditor-General’s recent report.

Last month demonstrators in Kapsabet accused the County Government of practising tribalism in key appointments and allocating tenders to “close friends.”

The protesters were organised by former ambassador to Australia Stephen Tarus and human rights activist and lawyer Samson Cherelagei. They have accused Dr Lagat of hiring youths to break up the protests.

Mr Tarus asked the governor to account for all funds since he assumed office.

Senator Sang and his Elgeyo-Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen have accused Dr Lagat of “being allergic to democratic principles.”