SAMBURU GOVERNOR LATI. LELELIT APPEARED BEFORE SENATE P.A.C COMMITTEE FOR FINANCIAL AUDIT QUARRIES

#samburucounty #samburu 𝐂𝐏𝐀𝐂 𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐔 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 A watchdog Committee of the Senate has flagged out a total of Sh390 million irregularly spent by the County Government of Samburu and directed thoroughly investigations into the expenditures by the State agencies. The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) further faulted the administration of Governor Lati Lelelit for irregularly recruiting casual workers in the county health facilities and creating offices within the County Public Service without following the law. At a meeting between the two sides where the report of the Auditor General’s for the county’s financial accounts for the year ending June 2023 was considered, the Committee directed Governor Lelelit to follow the laid down procedures when recruiting and paying casual workers. In the report, the auditor general has flagged a Sh36 million expenditure the county used to compensate casual workers and another Sh350 million for compensation of county staff, saying there is no proof that the funds were prudently utilised. However, documents presented before the Committee indicate that the money only compensated 36 casual workers. The Governor did not attach a list containing names of the casuals who were paid the monies, forcing Senators to conclude that the expenditure was fishy. “It was our observation that the money used to pay the casuals to the tune of Sh36 million was not prudently utilised,” ruled Senator Moses Kajwang’, the Chairman of the Committee. The Governor of creating an office and recruited staff in the county public service without the authority of the County Public Service Board as required by the law. While the Governor maintained that the Board was involved in creating the Office of the Governor’s Delivery Unity, he did not submit any documentary evidence to the committee to indicate that his action was lawful. Further the committee was told that at the time of creating the office, there was no Board as the term of the previous office holders had expired. “The CPSB was not involved in the decision,” said Senator Steven Lelegwe, of Samburu County. Senator Kajwang directed the EACC to move in declare the Governor’s Delivery Unit redundant and surcharge all officers deployed there as they were a product of an illegality. “In the absence of the evidence on whether the Board was consulted, we direct the EACC to demand a refund from the officers who recruited to work in the Unit. It is illegal,” said Senator Kajwang. As part of its efforts to reduce the workload, the Committee also hosted Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko, who chaired the Committee in the 12th parliament. However, the session with the Migori Governor was chaired by Senator samson Cherarkey who is the vice chair of the Committee. The Committee faulted Governor Ayacko for having paid Sh2 million to the Council of Governors as subscription fee. The Committee has adjudged such payments as illegal for want of legal backing. Governor Ayacko defended the payment saying it was necessary for the survival of the Council as the lobby group of Governors. The Committee threatened to surcharge the Governor of the funds should he pay again.