Typing Error That Cost Govt Ksh220 Million

Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana has been thrust into the spotlight after details emerged that a typing error might have cost his county to the upwards of Ksh220 million.

Appearing before the Senate Public County Accounts and Investment Committee on Monday, the governor was expected to answer to questions relating to the unexplained expenditure of over Ksh222 million spent on asset acquisition.

Godhana had reportedly failed to explain or defend the expenditure.

The competence of his finance officials was questioned after they claimed that the unexplained expenditure came about following typographical or computer errors.

According to a report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko, Tana River County had been awarded Ksh5.6 Billion by the National Treasury for the financial year 2017/2018.

The County reportedly spent Ksh4.5 Billion leaving Ksh1.12 Billion that was aimed at acquiring the assets.

Ouko, after analyzing the statements, however,  revealed that a total of Ksh1.3 Billion had been left for the assets with an approximate of Ksh222 million that was not accounted for.

In February 2018, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga government almost lost Ksh20 million to typing errors.

Kahiga attributed the Ksh20 Million gate fund allocation in his development budget, which had sparked angry reactions from the area's residents, to a mistake.

"The gate is already complete, we are not going to work on it. What was in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) was a typing error," explained the governor at the time.