Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
Sleuths from the Kenya Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission {KEACC} have been dispatched to Migori County government to investigate the alleged corruption. They have detected and queried various loopholes in procurement, unsupported claims estimated to be slightly in excess of colossal amount of taxpayers’ money to the tune of Kshs 400 million.
Sources both in Nairobi and Migori quoted an official of the anti graft commission George Nyabuga as having confirmed the deployment of the sleuths at the MIGORI county offices to investigate extravagant withdrawal of money, and some payments made to phantom people and organizations.
The reports painted the County government as having gone with recklessness and extravagant spending spree. Among the organizations considered as undeserving is the Nairobi-based Gor Mahia Football Club, which is said in the reported to have received KSHS 168,000 for unexplained reasons..
A management reports which is already in the public domain shows how a clerical officer working as Personal assistant {PA} to the governor called Caspal Obiero extravagantly claimed a total of Kshs 16 million for traveling and accommodation allowances. The officer mentioned is reported to have at one time drawn three huge claims on one day from the cashier.
The report shows that the county staff extravagantly drew unsupported impress amounting to KSHS 32 millions. Queries have also been raised about the air-tickets bought for the governor Zachary Okoth Obado and a delegation for travels for local and international destinations travels.
“Payment voucher number 1842 issued on 24th December 2013 and paid for in cash money to Elsuco Tours and Travels through Invoice number218 dated 23 December 2013 indicates that the tickets were bought for the governor’s wife Mrs Hellen Odie Obado and 12 other persons to travel to Mombasa for the colossal amount of Kshs 616,200.”
The audit report is questioning the identities of the 12 people who had traveled with the governor to Mombasa on the eve of Christmas their titles, role and assignment to county government.
The report further revealed that the delegation were booked at the posh hotel called Amani Tiwi Resort and the Migori County government footed the accommodation bill of Kshs 1.7 million for their accommodation and meals.
Other questionable payments which the auditor gave queried include the KSHS 147.9 million for the unauthorized purchase of motor vehicles..Abuse of Kshs 1.8for the preparation of tender documents. Kshs 15.3 million for the undelivered vehicles Such other payments include Kshs 24.4 million traveling and accommodation. Another KSHS 10 million was spent for for the alleged hire of equipment for unspecified work. And another sums of Kshs 10 million for the purchase of plastic water tanks.
There was another trip by Governor Obado to the US WITH aNOTHER MAN Called Moses Chamwada US where the air-tickets were bought for him and another person called Moses Chamwada for KSHS 947,588.the deal has also been questioned by the auditors after the passports of the two were not provided or produced to justify and confirm the claims whether the trip actually took place.
Governor Obado on his part has rubbished and dismissed the report as witch hunting.
“The county may be buying air-tickets for people people who are not its employees,” observed the report.
ENDS