KISUMU COUNCIL CLERK AND TREASURER WEEPS BEFORE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITEE AS THE COUNCIL MISSES LATIF FUNDING DUE TO CORRUPTION.
By Agwanda Jowi
Drama was witnessed at the Kisumu Municipality town hall when the Council’s Clerk David Ole Nkere and his Trasurer Stephen Osiro literally wept before the Parliamentarey Commitee on Local Authorities which is led by Ainamoi MP Benjamimn Lang’at after they failed to account for millions of shillings allocated to the council via Local Authorities Transfer Funds prompting the Parliamentary watchdog to order the Inspector General Corporations to investigate the activities of the council.
The Clerk,the Treasurer and the Mayor Sam Okello had earlier been in a jovial mood as they bounced along the council’s corridors saying how prep[ared they were only to be surprised by the turn of the events as Mayor Okello was ordered by Lang’at to keerp his mpouth shut as he is not an accounting officert of the council anytimer he waqnted to defent the many financial malpractrices which were detected by the watchdog.
“I am surprised that asa tresurer of a council of Kisumu’ magnitude ,ytou can not read and articulate abudeget, what for sure are your qualifications?”Sigor MP Wilson Litole and a member of the cxommittee reprimanded Mr Osiro and told him to his face that the council risl loosing the 2010/201 LATIF Fund .
The situation was however saved by a senior Accountant within the Council Caren Adwenya who ntook the committee step y step tooth combing every detail they hasd demanded to now from both the treasurer and trhe clerk who appeared totally ignorant with the goings on within the council with Lang’at teling them that this is the foiurth time they were failing to give answers to the committee
The Parliamentary Committee at the same time reprimanded the council for not accounting for projects that it tabled before at the town hall in Kisumu.
Some of the projects in question included the proposed extension of the town hall which was listed to have cost 6 million but which the Nkere and the treasurer Osiro could not account for together with projects within the council totalling to over kshs 11 million which they could not account for.
Also not accounted for was a an ultra Modern market which has so far consumed 39 million shillings and which was later condemned by the European Union, the main funding agency.
Lagat demanded to know why the civic body spent 22 million shillings on the stalled project yet its budget reflected 7 million shillings.
The first to query the project was William Litole (Sigor) who pointed out that some 15 million shillings had been allocated for the project together with an addition 7 million shillings.
It emerged that some 15 million shillings had also been earmarked for the project via LATIF.
Among the committee members who were also present at yesterday deliberations included Polyns Ochieng’ (Nyakach) John Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West) and Nemesses Warugendo (Kieni).
Osiro and Nkere together with the mayor Sam Okello were at pains to explain the financial anomalies presented before the committee members
The council could not account for the 165 million shillings money for the years 2007 and 2008.
Lagat demanded to know why the market tenders were faulted on December 2007 and works commenced in February 2008 yet the political atmosphere in the country was tense.
He wanted to know action had been taken against those who embezzled funds meant for the market.
The committee also learnt that a slum upgrading project in Kisumu had stalled alongside a community development project which was said to have consumed some 20 million shillings.
Lagat said the market should also be probed by the auditor general corporations.
He said the council had in the past been turned away after appearing before it while unprepared.
He faulted the council for not seeking for approval from the government when making project variations.
Following the incident various stakeholders have voiced their concern demanding accountabilty and transparencing within the council’s accouncting officers.
Councilor Robert Otuge laments that it really pains taht the Council’s Treasurer.Clerk and the finance Committee Chairman could not proceed to follow up the issues which had led to the suspension of LATIF funding despiter them(councilors)having approved the budget.
He also accuses the Mayor together with the duop of Osiuro and Nkere of i8ncurring expenses out of the budget to suit the interests.
“Why should tewn Councillors be sent for a meeting meant for only twi which is fully funded by the host yet they still take money from the council to go to such with full approval and knowledge of the said accaounting officers?” he posed
He says that its only in Kisumu Municiplaity where trips involving financial expenditures are not tabled and done to suit the interest of the mayor and the Chief Officers.
He laments that with luck of the LATIF funding residents of Kisumu will suffer, astatement echoed by Railways Ward Councillor Isaya Onyango who was ally turned foe of the Mayor who says that Prime Minister Raila Odinga really goofed by bringing the said Mayor to Kisumu.
“Jakom”-(Raila) should have found for this man something else to doi and not make him the Mayor of this City,hetalks too much yet he’s doing absolutely nothing since he was brought with lies he peddles about non-existent investments and investors” Onyango added.
Kisumu Town West MP John Olago Aluoch is advising the Councilors and the Chief Officers to be responsive and visionary of voters if they still want to serve after 2010.
ENDS
Thoughs these may appear to be true, stories from this writer must always be read with caution as he has been known to be a gutter press writer for hire
Why should Kisumu town suffer lack of funds due to incompetence of a few individuals. The Treasurer and clerk should be redoployed where they can perform as they are investigated and sacked and jailed if found to have embezzled and misapproprited funds.
Meanwhile, an accounting firm can be appointed to manage finances in behalf of the council in the same fashion like receiver managers. We have many local accounting firms that can do the jobs within the budgets of the council. What happened to the many graduates who underwent the rigorous KASNEB examinations? We thought City treasurers are professional accountants and City clerks are professional secretaries. THERE IS SERIOUS MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. One of the laws in Public Financial Management is to have professionaly qualified people as chief officers.
KISUMU CITY NEEDS THOSE FUNDS. IT IS THE CHIEF OFFICERS THAT IT DOES NOT NEED.
It is sad what we are reading from The Auditor General’s report. It is even more painful that the thefts took place some two years ago and responsible officers are still holding offices. Verily, verily I tell you Kenyans, with corruption and impunity, you are going nowhere!
At the beginning of every 5 year term, we expect the president to outline a development plan and agenda to parliament and the public. It is this that the public and parliament holds him accountable.
Similarly, Governors together with Senators must outline their agenda to the public and regional assemblies at the onset of their terms. The same should apply to MPs and District administrators. This must be a legal requirement to all elected leaders.
Embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds(including those managed by churches and NGOs) must be classified as a SERIOUS CRIME with very punitive jail terms and mandatory recovery and attachment of ill gotten wealth. Indeed church leaders and NGO managers just like public servants must declare their wealth and be able to account for any increase or decrease at any given time, failure to which heavy jail terms should be imposed