Senate Committee declines to hear officials representing Governor Wycliffe Oparanya

Senate's Public Accounts and Investment Committee declined to give audience to two Kakamega County officials who had gone to represent Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Oparanya had sent County Chief Executive Paul Otsola and Secretary Jeremiah Were to appear on his behalf to respond to audit queries, but the team, chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, turned them away.

Khalwale ruled that the governor be surcharged for travel expenses incurred by the officials, alleging 'wasteful expenditure.'

Governors have questioned why senators, if they are honest over enforcing accountability, have declined to hear submissions from county chief officers who they argue are also competent to respond to audit queries.

The county chiefs who have not appeared before the Senate committee have cited court orders restraining the Senate from summoning them.

Oparanya is among a team of governors who obtained court orders protecting them against appearing before the Senate committee to respond to audit questions raised by Auditor General Edward Ouko.

"The Kakamega governor will be surcharged for wasting taxpayers' funds," ruled Khalwale yesterday before proceeding to direct the two officials to surrender travel and accommodation documentation to the clerk of the Senate for computation of the amount to be billed to the governor.

"Let the officials liaise with the clerks and the auditors of the Senate so that we can find out the amount of taxpayers' money that was wasted on this trip," ruled the chairman.

"He knew he had a court order but he proceeded to authorise the use of public funds to send these officials to Nairobi. He has violated Article 226(5) of the Constitution and should be surcharged," said Vihiga Senator George Khaniri.

Interestingly, the two county officers said the governor had not given them any letter authorising them to represent him before the committee.

Among the audit queries Oparanya is expected to respond to is the use of Sh5.2 million to buy a car.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae has said he cannot honour summons from the Senate until a constitutional petition on the powers of senators is determined by the court.

Ongwae was responding to claims by Khalwale that he had refused to appear before the committee on Monday.

"The High Court sitting in Nairobi issued an order restraining the Senate from summoning any governor to appear before it to answer any questions on county government finances," he said yesterday.