Members of the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday uncovered a possible Ksh100 Billion impropriety involving all 47 county governments.
In a probe led by committee Chair Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang', the Senators suggested that the amount outlined as debts could be false.
"We are convinced part of the Ksh99 Billion pending bills could be a liability for taxpayers that is not valid.
"It would be proper to have a probe on the bills conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)," Kajwang' observed.
[caption caption="File image of Senate PAC Chair Moses Kajwang' with senators Mithika Linturi and Millicent Omanga "]
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Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti had appeared before the committee to answer questions on his administration's expenditure between 2014 and 2015.
Dr Kuti explained that he had inherited a debt wage of Ksh916 Million. He, however, ordered an independent audit to ascertain the amount.
"After the audit, an exit report showed that out of the Ksh916 Million pending bills, only Ksh96 Million owed to suppliers was genuine.
"The rest of the claims were doubtful since some had missing documents while the rest were outright fake," the governor revealed.
The revelation informed the chairperson's decision to involve DCI detectives to probe the billions claimed by contractors hired by the 47 governors.
Senators present - Ledama ole Kina (Narok), Sam Ongeri (Kisii), Millicent Omanga (nominated) and Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga) - found it worrisome that the situation in Isiolo could be similar for the other county governments.
"I am afraid that all our focus may be on the scandals unfolding in national government institutions while billions of shillings could be at risk of getting lost in the devolved units. We need to audit all the claims," Senator Kajwang' noted.
[caption caption="File image of Senators leaving the Senate chambers"]
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