Lamu Finance County Executive, Ahmed Hemed has resigned abruptly from Governor Fahim Twaha’s Cabinet under unclear circumstances.
Lamu County government is on the spot for allegedly looting millions of shillings through fictitious projects.
According to a recent report by the Auditor General Edward Ouko, the county cannot account for more than Sh149 million spent during the 2017/2018 financial year.
Ouko reveals that the amount was spent irregularly through a fictitious project that was allocated Sh148,472,193 without proper and legal budgeting procedures.
The report reprimands the county executive led by Governor Fahim Twaha of being behind the irregularity.
Other members in the executive include Abdul Aboud (Deputy Governor), Ahmed Hemed (CeC Finance), Abdu Godana (CeC Livestock and Fisheries), Fahima Arafat (CeC land and Infrastructure), Dimas Mpole (CeC Trade and Tourism), Raphael Munywa (CeC Health, Environment and Sanitation) and Florence Ndungu (CeC Agriculture, Water and Irrigation).
According to the report, the members incurred the expenditure without prior authority contrary to section 53 of the Public Finance Management (County Government Regulations of 2015).
The executive is also on the spot for allocating more money for both its recurrent and development expenditures to the county assembly, a move seen as one aimed at silencing Members of County Assembly.
Do you think Ahmed’s resignation saves him from this scandals?