The Office of Auditor General (OAG) in its report for County Executives in the 2022-2023 financial year revealed billions looted by governors and other county officials.
Meru County under the leadership of Kawira Mwangaza was one of the devolved units that reported the least instances of county officials looting taxpayers' funds.
It was also one of the few counties in Kenya where Auditor General Nancy Gathungu did not flag for tribal appointments when employing county staff.
Areas of concern that were identified in Meru County included; Irregular payment of emergency call allowances, unsupported expenditure and unconfirmed transfers to other government entities.
For irregular payment of emergency call allowances, while other counties were being accused of underpaying doctors, Kawira Mwangaza was accused of overpaying them.
“Financial statements reflect compensation of employees totalling Ksh5 million which includes Ksh126 million paid to 161 doctors and medical officers as emergency call allowances. However, it was observed that the payment rates used of Ksh72,000, Ksh66,000 and Ksh80,000 were higher than the Ksh30,000 per month stipulated in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Circular,” Gathungu observed in her submissions.
The Auditor General further revealed that she could not determine the accuracy and proprietary of Ksh1.2 million paid as legal fees by the county government.
It should be noted that the payment of the legal fees emanated from a 2021 case that happened long before Kawira Mwangaza became the governor.
In the report, concerns were also raised over money used during the construction of a new ablution block and a clubhouse.
The report indicated that the Ksh2 million used for the project was not supported by advertisement, notice to tender and bid documents.
While the Auditor General did not indicate that money was lost during the project, her report indicated that she could not vouch for the accuracy, propriety and completeness of the amount spent on the project.
The report from the Auditor General is in contrast to the happenings in the Meru County Assembly where members have impeached the governor repeatedly over accusations of misuse of public funds.
Kawira Mwangaza on her part, has reiterated that MCAs fight her because she has been resolute in defending public resources from being looted.
