The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds on Monday flagged bursary disbursements made by the Murang’a County Government.
According to the Committee, funds were suspected of being misappropriated during the exercise in the 2021/2022 financial year.
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, speaking after the Committee meeting, revealed that the Auditor General had been ordered to conduct a fresh audit of the Murang’a County Education Scholarship Fund.
This was after an initial report showed that over Ksh46 million were likely misappropriated.
“The committee may summon the former governor of Murang'a to explain how these irregularities occurred,” Senator Thang’wa explained.
“The previous audit report showed that each student received 60,000 Kenyan shillings as a bursary during the 2021/2022 fiscal year.”
As recommended by the committee, the Auditor General will have three months to conduct a new audit and submit her findings to the Senate.
Senator Thang’wa remarked that the Senate committee was taking decisive measures to address the audit queries.
This aligned with the Senate’s constitutional mandate of ensuring proper management of county public investments.
If the Senate confirms that the county misappropriated funds in the bursary scheme, charges will be recommended against the former governor.
The governor already has pending court cases which relate to conflict of interest during the awarding of advertisement contracts during his tenure.
Mwangi wa Iria has dismissed the charges, remarking that they are politically motivated.
