Homa Bay governor meets Senate team, denies wasting Sh178m

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti when he met Senators over county spending. [PHOTO MOSES OMUSULA/ standard]

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti yesterday appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to defend the expenditure of Sh174.8 million as revealed by the Auditor General's report.

The committee, chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale interrogated the governor for spending Sh123 million on the construction of hatcheries.

Senators Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Kennedy Bogonko (Nyamira), Dr Khalwale and Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay) questioned the viability of the hatcheries project, but Awiti assured them that many residents had benefited from it.

The county government is also said to have spent Sh11.8 million on renovation of the governor's office through a restricted tender. Awiti clarified that tender was awarded to the lowest bidder.

A further Sh10 million was used to renovate the deputy governor's office. And Sh30 million was spent on upgrading his official residence and that of his deputy.

Mr Awiti, however, defended the projects and furnished the committee with the supporting documents availed to the auditor but the committee wasn't convinced.

This was clear when Khalwale said: "We cannot trust the governor or the auditors. We are going to inspect the projects ourselves. But thanks for being candid to face the committee."

Awiti, who faced the senators over the audit queries raised by Auditor General Edward Ouko for a second time, insisted that the public had gotten value for money and no funds were misused. The governor, County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe and Chief Finance Officer Evans Abeka put up a strong defence in a bid to justify the expenditure.

"The governor's office must be done properly so that even if the chairman of the committee passes by, he can have a decent home and place to sleep and eat," said Awiti.

Representatives from Mr Ouko's office came his rescue when they told the senators that they had been furnished with necessary and vital supportive documents and had no more queries on the executive's expenditure.

Khalwale urged governors to respond to audit issues at the time they receive management letters from the Auditor General to avert unnecessary accountability interrogations.

"It is important that governors submit relevant documents of proof at the time of audit so that these queries do not find their way to this committee," he said.