Nairobi, Mombasa top county cash spenders

Nairobi, Mombasa, Narok and Bomet have been listed as the biggest spenders of the devolved funds, a new report shows.

The report by the Controller of Budget also indicates that county governments dedicated huge percentage of their budgets to personnel emoluments over the last quarter.

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo has reported to the Senate that 55 per cent of the devolved funds have gone to salaries and allowances in all the 47 counties.

The revelations emerged even as various members of county assemblies threatened drastic actions against governors following the impeachment of the Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

In the current fiscal year, the 47 county bosses have spent a whopping Sh1.06 billion on domestic and foreign travel alone— accounting for 19.8 per cent of total operations and maintenance expenditure.

Governors have resisted attempts by the national government to control the hiring spree they embarked on after assuming office despite warnings on the ballooning wage bill.

They have also spent a combined Sh241.9 million on conference, hospitality and catering while Sh708 million has been spent countrywide to buy vehicles.

Further, another Sh161.2 million has been spent on training, Sh473 million on MCA’s sitting allowances while Sh2.7 billion has been expended on other unspecified undertakings.

Overall, Nairobi under Governor Evans Kidero has spent Sh2.8 billion on personnel emoluments this year while Mombasa under Governor Hassan Joho has used Sh767.1 million on the same.

Narok under Mr Samuel Tunai is third having spent Sh572.6 million on staff while Bomet under Mr Isaac Rutto used Sh482.9 million.

In the same report, the Nyeri county government is listed the highest spender on development, with 30 per cent dedicated to initiation of new projects. Tana River is second with 26 per cent while Tharaka Nithi is third with 25.5 per cent. (EDITORIAL: Stop wasteful spending)

MASSIVE IRREGULARITIES

Mrs Odhiambo has also reported to the Senate massive irregularities in handling of imprests by various offices in counties.

“There are unsurrendered huge imprests— some counties have close to Sh10 million issued over the same period. In certain instances, offices are given imprest of up to Sh1.8 million in one month and an additional Sh900,000 the following month without first surrendering the earlier imprest,” Mrs Odhiambo said in her presentation to the House.

She further revealed that some counties were operating multiple bank accounts— making tracking of expenditure and reconciliation of accounts difficult.

She complained that some devolved units had supplied false information on their expenditure, something bordering on criminality.

“Some counties have a different budget in the IFMIS from the one presented to the office of the Controller of Budget,” she said.

The report came amidst tension between governors and MCAs in various counties over state of affairs in the peripheral governments.

In Homa Bay County, there is tension between Governor Cyprian Awiti and MCA’s over public appointments and procurement by the staff working under him.

This week, a group of reps is planning to move a motion to have County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe ejected from office over alleged unvetted appointment.

“This county is rotten. Things are being done haphazardly here and we are warning the governor that he will shortly find things very rough if he cannot change his ways,” said Kabondo Ward Representative Godfrey Juma.

Only a few weeks ago, the assembly rejected five out of the 10 county chief officers forwarded for approval by Mr Awiti’s office.

Chairman of the County Public Service Board Mathews Oseko also complained of blatant breach of law by the executive.

“I have found myself in a position where letters are written to my office asking me to hire people who did not even apply for the jobs and I have refused. What is happening in Embu is here in large scale, I can confirm,” he said.

But Mr Awiti’s spokesman John Oyuah dismissed the allegations as far-fetched and designed to malign the county boss.

“Only one man has been sulking here but as far as we are concerned there was a small problem with the appointments of the chief officers, which the governor is working on, and by this week, all will be fine,” he said.

In Migori, Governor Okoth Obado’s election is awaiting a decision of the Supreme Court after his rival Akongo Oyugi appealed the High Court’s decision to uphold his win.

GIANT COOPERATIVE

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria is also facing off with county assembly members after he formed a cooperative and spent Sh22 million to market it. Area leaders have also accused him of being arrogant and failing to consult them while making decisions.

The formation of the giant cooperative, dubbed Shilingi kwa Shilingi, ticked off local leaders including Senator Kembi Gitura, Women’s Representative Sabina Chege, MPs and the MCAs who said they were not consulted.

In Bungoma, there is acrimony between Governor Ken Lusaka and members of the county assembly over the appointment of chief officers. 
The MCAs have rejected two out of the three officers who appeared for vetting.

The animosity was fuelled by the December senatorial by-election where Mr Lusaka was accused of openly campaigning for Mr Musikari Kombo, who lost to Mr Moses Wetang’ula.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, accusations and counter-accusations characterise the relationship between the executive headed by the Governor Alex Tolgos and the County Assembly under speaker Albert Kochei.

Several crucial bills— including the Finance Bill—are pending in what Mr Tolgos claims is a plot by the Assembly to derail his development agenda.

Additional report by Samuel Karanja