Nyamira Governor, John Nyagarama was put on the spot by the Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee on Monday, October 19.
The governor admitted to suspicious dealings in his county exposing some of his officials as the masterminds of the scheme. The officials, he said, had provided either forged or falsified financial documents to the Senate's Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
Four youthful residents from Nyamira County, allied to the Nyamira ni Yetu Sisi Mayouth lobby group, had filed a petition against the governor over nepotism, stalled development and alleged diversion of donor funds.
The Senate committee put Governor Nyagarama on the spot for the withdrawal of huge amounts of funds from a particular bank where the funds are channeled.
“I am shocked by the facts,” the rattled governor told the committee.
The governor requested the questions be diverted to his counterparts, his deputy Amos Nyaribo, lawyer Jones Nyachiro, members of his Executive Committee and all accounting officers, who he claimed were in a better position to clarify the situation.
His Finance and Planning Executive John Omanwa's attempt to provide an explanation was dismissed by the Senate.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, vice-chair Naomi Waqo and committee chairman Okong’o Mogeni, delved deep into the validity of the financial documents which lacked important details.
“All these receipts do not have dates and it is very suspicious for any accounting document to lack such an important mark,” Waqo said.
Kilonzo Jnr also sought to understand how the Nyamira County government spent Ksh1 million meant for aiding farmers to train Member of County Assemblies in Kisumu County.
“Is it proper for the county to spend Sh1 million meant for farmers to train MCAs in Kisumu for a project that is being implemented in Nyamira? Are there not hotels in the county where they can be trained to save on costs?” asked Kilonzo Jnr.
The committee suspended the hearings after rejecting the financial documents filed in response to the petition. Governor Nyagarama was directed by the committee to file correct receipts and lists of all farmers and stakeholders who were trained, and all bank statements and transactions during the period in question.
