Audits unearth wastage in counties

Embu Governor Martin Wambora joins dancers at Manyatta market centre during the commissioning of four graders worth Sh100 million. An audit has revealed wastage of funds in the county. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Two reports released by the Auditor General's office have revealed gross mismanagement and wastage of public funds by county governments.

An audit on the Embu County Government has shown a new Toyota Prado was purchased for Governor Martin Wambora at a cost of Sh12,196,659, exceeding the Sh10 million authorised by the budget.

"The excess expenditure was irregularly charged to travelling and subsistence allowance," the report stated.

Another report indicts the Vihiga County administration for losing millions due to lack of proper documentation.

The report reveals the county leadership made payments to county assembly committee members in respect of sitting allowances amounting to Sh14,040,088.

Another Sh3,204,310 was paid for travelling and accommodation and no supporting evidence has been made available to confirm attendance and deliberations of the meetings.

The Embu County Assembly was faulted for irregular double payment of allowances to members totalling Sh500,000 as sitting allowances as well as another Sh4,053,445 in night sitting allowance.

The executive was also put to task over payment of Sh366,000 as sitting allowances to county secretaries and recommended that the county government recover the payments.

"Two contracts costing more than Sh15.8 million were awarded to a contractor sourced through restricted tendering method of procurement but which was not registered by Ministry of Public Works," the report said, contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

By the time the report was completed on September 9, 2013, a generator acquired at a cost of over Sh5 million had not been commissioned.

According to the report on financial operations of Vihiga County, temporary imprest amounting to Sh3,075,676 was issued but not recorded.

"Also, an imprest of Sh600,000 that was issued to an officer vide imprest warrant No 1712613 on June 2013 was reflected as having been accounted for but the reference document indicated in the register was unclear and management could not explain what it represented," stated the audit.

It was also established that money for insurance cover was paid to an insurance agent and there was no evidence to confirm the paid amount was remitted by the agent to the principal company.

"Sh2,256,140 has been spent on payment of insurance premiums in respect of vehicles in the county and it was observed the money was paid to an agent for transmission to the underwriting insurance company," adds the report.

The General Auditor noted payments amounting to Sh2,872,589 for various supplies were made without supporting documents.

Records indicate goods worth Sh6,861,500, not included in the original tender, were procured without approval by the tender committee.