Kirinyaga governor risks Sh235 million surcharge over unexplained expenditure

Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi must explain how his administration spent Sh234.9 million or he will be forced to refund the money.

The county government failed to provide documents detailing the expenditure to the Auditor General two years ago.

The Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee warned Ndathi against faking documents as this will be a criminal offence.

The senators also accused the Auditor General's office of connivance to conceal the truth on the matter.

They said the Auditor General's officers in Nyeri met their county government counterparts when the latter reportedly attempted to respond to the concerns. They said this could have been an attempt to put the matter behind without proof of how the money was spent.

"It will be a serious offence if it emerges the meeting between the auditors and county government was meant to hide the truth. We may recommend that the auditors be barred from holding public offices," Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu).

Ndathi attracted the wrath of the senators after he said the documents are in his office. They lawmakers wondered why the same papers were not provided when the Auditor General needed them.

The county government claimed it had used the money to improve water supply and infrastructure. However, auditors said only payment vouchers amounting to Sh42.4 million were produced. Ndathi later said he has vouchers for the rest of the money.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said: "The governor had the responsibility to provide the documents. The fact he has not given them for the last two years shows they are not available and he wants to manufacture them."