Governor Mandago responds to non-attendance of Senate meet

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago speaks during the handing of certificates to Jubilee Party nominees in Eldoret town on May 12, 2017. He has said he will appear before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee for questioning. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Prof John Lonyangapuo told the officials that their respective governors must attend.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has dismissed claims that he refused to appear before the Senate watchdog committee to respond to queries raised by the Auditor-General on financial spending during the 2015/2016 financial year.

Governor Mandago said that his failure to show up at the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee was because he was on paternity leave and was at the same time engaged in other commitments related to election campaigns.

OFFICIALS SENT AWAY
He said his failure to appear before the team was not deliberate as is being portrayed by some of the committee members.

Mr Mandago was reacting to a decision by the committee to turn away his deputy Daniel Chemno last Wednesday for failing to appear before it with him.

Also kicked out were senior county officials from Bomet, after Governor Isaac Ruto failed to appear.

RECOVER EXPENSE
The committee’s vice chairman, Prof John Lonyangapuo, told the officials that their respective governors must appear, and directed the two devolved units to surcharge the officials the per diem received for the city trip because it amounted to a waste of resources.

However, Governor Mandago said he would abide by the committee’s directive to appear before it.

“I will make arrangements to appear before the team on June 7 without failure,” he said.