Senators on Thursday summoned former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu to explain discrepancies in the financial statements of the county textile centre for three financial years.
The Senate Committee on Public County Investments directed Ngilu to appear before it alongside the former county management officials who signed the county textile centre's financial statements during the periods under review.
The summon was issued after Kitui Governor Julius Malombe who appeared before the committee raised concerns regarding the centre's financial performance and accountability.
Malombe had been summoned following the auditor general's report that revealed adverse operations due to financial contractions in 2020 and 2021.
The committee led by its chairperson Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi highlighted significant management and financial challenges that threatened the centre’s operations and sustainability.
The senators were forced to summon Ngilu after Malombe failed to explain the financial discrepancies which have crippled the textile centre in the past few years.
"The committee hereby issues summons, under Article 125 of the Constitution and sections 18 and 20 of the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, to the former Governor of Kitui County Charity Ngilu, the former top management officials,” read part of the Senate’s summon.
Meanwhile, Governor Malombe was directed to submit reports of the same county project within three days, including the centre's status report.
The governor was also directed to submit the names and contact details of the textile centre's Board of Directors and details of signatories to the industry's bank accounts.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials were also invited to attend the summon meeting scheduled for next week.
Ngilu's summon comes hardly a year after EACC detectives launched a probe against the former Kitui Governor over allegations of mismanaging county funds during her tenure.
The former county boss was also alleged to have interfered with the role of the Kitui County Public Service Board (KCPSB) contrary to the law by pushing for the appointment of unnamed officials.
