Wajir County Government pending invoices increased by Ksh. 4.5 billion in just two months.
It was discovered on Wednesday when Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi went before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee and presented the county's massive pending bill.
During those two months, the county's pending bill increased from Ksh.1 billion to Ksh.5.5 billion, prompting concerns about suspected public funds embezzlement.
The Governor acknowledged that the county administration made necessary deductions but neglected to remit them, increasing the debt by Ksh.1.5 billion.
According to the Governor, Wajir County has pending bills totalling Ksh.7.4 billion.
Did you read this?
"How do I get a report that the pending bill is Ksh.5.5 billion if an audit was done as of 30th June and the liability is Ksh. 1 billion, an election happens in August, and Governors are sworn in the middle of August?" "Either the assumption report is completely fraudulent, or the audit has understated the liabilities," claimed the Governor.
The senators were outraged by the discoveries and ordered a forensic examination to verify that the officers implicated were punished and the funds were recovered.
"The law must be applied; the EACC and the Auditor General should conduct a forensic audit with the goal of criminally prosecuting those who were in office and are responsible for this sad reality that is befalling us," stated Busia Senator Okiya Omtata.
"It is unacceptable for counties like Wajir to have that many pending bills to compete with Nairobi." When you look at the data, Wajir will come out as a county that may need a bailout. Still, we will not have a bailout and offer golden parachutes to individuals responsible so that they may land in Seychelles and enjoy life.
Wajir will be released on bond, but those guilty will face prison time," Omtata stated.
Committee Chair Moses Kajwang questioned how a county like Wajir could be second only to Nairobi in the list of outstanding bills and charged the Governor with ensuring that the matter is resolved and only the legible pending invoices are paid.
"We must request that the Auditor General conduct a thorough audit and agree that the EACC must be called in obvious cases." We urge you to be courageous in dealing with this matter; we must order that the first charge be the Ksh.1.5 billion in statutory deductions that were deducted but not remitted," he said.
Wajir County experienced turmoil during the last term, particularly after then-Governor Mohammed Muhammud was impeached by the Senate, and there were two sitting governors at one point after the courts reinstated him. At the same time, he battled with his deputy Hashim Musa Yusuf.vvvvv
