Senate Puts Ukambani Governors on The Spot Over Illegal Projects

The Senate’s County Public Accounts and Investment Committee has put Ukambani governors on the spot over the imprudent expenditure of public funds allocated to their respective counties.

Speaking on Thursday during the second edition of Senate Mashinani at the Kitui County Assembly Chambers, the committee’s chair Senator Moses Kajwang said the Senate was investigating several projects illegally set up by Machakos, Kitui and Makueni Governors.

“We have reports of projects and programmes that were implemented in Kitui and Makueni counties without due approval of the county assemblies and we will make sure the governors are held to account,” said Kajwang, who is the Homa Bay County Senator.

“It does not matter whether that project is benefitting residents or not. Governors must spend funds as allocated and approved by MCAs and desist from diverting the funds to other unbudgeted projects,” he emphasized.

Kajwang cited the Kitui County garment factory, KICOTEC, which Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua and the Kitui County assembly have put Governor Charity Ngilu on the spot for setting up without approval by MCAs and without required legal policy framework.

He also warned the county bosses against not honouring summons to appear before his team to respond to audit queries.

“Governors have developed the habit of not honouring summons to appear before the Senate committee without reasonable cause. Let them be warned that doing so shall attract the consequences,” said Kajwang.

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana yesterday failed to show up before the committee to respond to audit queries.

On Wednesday, Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua snubbed summons to appear before the public accounts committee.

“The governors must know that they will be held accountable for all funds allocated to their counties. Every cent must be spent within the law and for the benefit of residents,” emphasized Senator Kajwang.

The Senate is holding its second edition of county sittings outside Nairobi in Kitui from September 16 to 20.

The inaugural plenary and committee sittings dubbed “Senate Mashinani” were held in Uasin Gishu in September 2018.

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