Nairobi County officials from the legal department are facing grave accusations in a Ksh592.4 million scandal.
The money was allegedly paid out in legal fees whereas the county government had not budgeted for the transactions.
According to a report by The Standard, the county Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was been forced to push the acting County Attorney David Moseko and the finance official Stephen Mutua to offer insight on the development.
The PAC Chairman indicated, “We want to know why the issue of payment of irregular legal costs has been a recurring one for the past three financial years.”
The officials were faulted for not seeking the authorization for the supplementary expenditure from the county assembly.
The reports by the Auditor General indicated that the legal department of the county paid a total of Ksh645.2 million to 12 law firms despite having budgeted for only Ksh105 million in 2017.
Additionally, the money was spent outside the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), a financial system used by the government to foster accountability.
The following is an incomprehensive outline of how the funds were spent according to the report by The Standard.
1. Ksh83 million was paid to Koceyo advocates with no evidence of the legal services that the law firm offered.
2. Ksh85 million was paid to Momanyi and Company Associates without documentary proof of services offered.
3. Wachira, Mburu, Mwangi, and advocates received Ksh32.3 million.
4. Ksh20 million was paid to Prof Tom Ojienda and associates.
5. Ksh20.4 million was wired to Kithi and company advocates while Ksh15.9 million was paid to Koceyo and advocates.
