Where is the money? Civil organisations question how Sh4.3 billion in county spending disappeared into thin air
Nakuru County Civil Organizations Forum (NACCSOF) member Paul Masese addressing the media.
The Nakuru County Civil Organisations Forum (NACCSOF) has condemned the misuse of county resources. This follows the release of an audit report on Nakuru County expenditure for the 2022/23 financial year by the Office of the Auditor General.
The report reveals multiple breaches of public financial management principles and misappropriation of public funds by the Nakuru County government.
A total of Sh4.3 billion, representing 33 per cent of the county's expenditure, was questioned due to lack of supporting documents, irregular expenditure, failure to reconcile accounts and violation of procurement laws.
Another violation that stood out was that the County Executive spent Sh29 million on domestic travel and subsistence allowances, yet failed to provide supporting documents to account for how these monies were spent.
Another issue of concern was the fact that of the Sh6.9 billion spent on staff remuneration, Sh1.5 billion could not be traced in the county payroll system.
The county assembly, which has an oversight role, was also implicated as a total of Sh55 million spent on domestic travel and subsistence allowances could not be accounted for. The money is said to have been facilitated by the County Executive, which should not be the case.
Such money, if properly used, could facilitate the payment of the 600 medical interns for a period of one year.
The Sh55million flagged as irregular expenditure by the Members of the County Assembly (MCA) would have been enough to fund the establishment of nine full-fledged maternity wings, thereby increasing access to maternity services and improving maternal and neonatal health.
Speaking to the media, Centre of Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDDGG) CEO Paul Masese called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the abuse of office by the county officials that also includes, dereliction of duty, fraud and theft.
"The County Assembly and the County Executive publicly justify the expenditure, name the persons involved and list the actions taken to address the audit questions, and finally the Senate Public Accounts Committee requests the answers to the audit questions and recommends appropriate action," Masese said.