Nandi County's top leadership is embroiled in a scuffle over accountability and transparency in the allocation of the devolved unit's funds.
The conflict began on Monday, July 24, when Senator Samson Cherargei wrote a letter to Governor Stephen Sang, requesting detailed information on how Ksh40 billion was utilised between the financial years 2017/18 and 2021/22.
The senator expressed concern that the amount spent by the county did not seem to align with the development projects initiated by Governor Sang.
In response to Cherargei's inquiry, Governor Sang replied on Wednesday, July 26, stating that he was not obligated to provide an account to the senator.
This further escalated the tension between the two politicians, who are both members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, led by President William Ruto.
“Your letter essentially is asking us to facilitate you to undertake a mandate that has constitutionally been assigned to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).
“The OAG, being an independent constitutional office, has been adequately resourced (with both expert human resource and finances) to carry out its mandate by our Parliament where you are an honourable second term member,” Sang in his response wrote.
Governor Sang informed Cherargei that the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) had already conducted an audit of Nandi County and made the report available to both the Senate and the general public.
In carrying out his oversight responsibilities, the governor encouraged Cherargei to access the document at the Senate and conduct a thorough analysis and assessment of its contents.
Sang further accused the Cherargei of playing politics with Nandi County affairs. He remarked that the senator had exhibited unusual enthusiasm with concentrating on sideshows in occasions when Nandi was being discussed by the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“Having failed to prosecute these issues at the relevant Senate committee, I fail to understand how you will get it right on your own,” he stated.
Cherargei had given the governor a 14-day ultimatum to produce documentation relating to; bursary, health services, county emergency and county liquor and licencing funds.
“Your performance as a governor in terms of development continues to be dismal and degenerating noting that the Constitution has provided for structures to take you into account inclusive that of the senate,” Cherargei stated while listing his demands.
