Senate has been mandated to audit funds spent by county governments and further summon the respective governors to explain their expenditures.
The Supreme Court gave the senators the powers and also ordered governors to report on the revenue streams in the county, inclusive of the taxes collected and any other funds received through donations.
Funds disbursed from the national government to the county governments will be documented as evidence before the senators.
The Senate, led by the speaker Amason Kingi and his deputy Murungi Kathuri was also mandated to follow up on public funds and the conduct of the governors to ensure taxpayers’ money is used as budgeted.
Some of the loopholes in county funds include tender allocations, contractors, ghost workers, and faulty revenue collection systems.
Besides revenue allocation and spending, governors will also be answerable to the Senate on any matter concerning the county.
Some of the key roles of the Senate are making laws, allocating national revenue, and impeaching governors. Others are consideration, discussion, and approval of bills affecting the counties.
Senators are also empowered to represent the interests of the counties and their governments.
Newly elected governors are currently digitizing revenue collection and tying loose ends to curb the misappropriation of county funds.
Notably, county governors have in the past been accused of misappropriation of county funds that resort to underdevelopment in the counties.
Several governors faced court charges, including former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko and his counterpart from former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu. The two were impeached after the Senate upheld ouster motions passed by their county assemblies.
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