Story by Elijah Gichunge
Picture by James Mwirigi

Meru Governor has been cleared by the Senate Committee on County Public Accounts and Investment on the 2017/2018 Auditor General's (AGs) report queries.

The allegations on the report had it that Meru County had misappropriated funds as reported on the financial year ending 30th June 2018.

The Governor who was accompanied by his deputy, Titus Ntuchiu, responded to the audit queries terming them as being fictions,one being that the county government received budgetary allocation of Sh.16 Billion, though it was IFMIS generated.

"The budget we received for the financial year 2017/2018 was only sh.7 billion and therefore we can't account for mony we did not receive." Said the Governor.

The Committee led by the Chair, Senator Moses Kajwang' was convinced by the submissions and hailed Kiraitu's efforts to mitigate issues resulting from the pending bills for 2016/17, and other statements on which all the documents were submitted to auditor general for authentication. However, advised the MCAs not to lose sight of the prior year's financial statements.

Both the Governor and his Deputy blamed the Treasury for irregular release of monies to the county that gravely affect service delivery, as well as the integrity of Kenya's Financial systems.

Deputy Governor, categorically stated that all the figures in question on the financial statement were reconciled as confirmed by the AG's desk before the senate.

He added the wage bill effect arose from the payment of about 500 ECDE teachers who were employed without budget, incorporation of health workers into the payroll, gratuity payment and pending bills.