Ethuro says governors using senators as scapegoats

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro has refuted claims by governors that senators are undermining devolution, saying the House gets county audit reports from the Auditor-General.

Speaking at Urru Stadium during a fundraiser for five water projects in Tigania West on Saturday, Mr Ethuro accused county bosses of misappropriating funds and blaming senators for their woes.

"I am here for a fundraiser to help solve water problems yet water is fully devolved. Where are the funds which were allocated to water in Meru County?" fired Mr Ethuro.

He defended senators saying they do not generate malpractices in the counties.

"Senators have a mandate of asking governors how they have spent county funds," he added.

The Senate Speaker was responding to claims made by the Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya on Thursday who said the legislators were using committees to settle political scores ahead of 2017 polls.

Mr Munya said the fact that a majority of senators are eyeing the top county post in 2017 polls was proof enough of the quest by some members to use the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee for political gain.

A report tabled by the Public Accounts and Investment Committee revealed massive wastage of funds in the devolved units.

But governors denied the claims made by the Senate that they could not account for Sh300 billion allocated to the devolved units in the last three years.

COALITION POLITICS

Speaking at the fundraiser, Mr Ethuro also asked Opposition leaders to put aside their political differences and work with the government to develop the country.

"We are one nation despite the party or coalition we are in. We should join hands in developing our nation for a better future," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by an aspiring Tigania West parliamentary aspirant John Kanyuithia Mutunga who asked leaders to work as a team.

He also called on Meru leaders to shun abusive politics to avoid dividing locals.