Senate grills Meru Governor Peter Munya on auditor's budget queries

Meru Governor Peter Munya when he appeared before the Senate committee on public accounts to respond to budget queries raised by the Auditor General's office. The governor is on the spot for not spending money allocated for development. (PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/ STANDARD)

A governor is on the spot for not spending money allocated for development.

Meru Governor Peter Munya yesterday appeared before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee to explain why the county spent less than half of the Sh2.8 billion allocated for development expenditure, leaving Sh2.2 billion unused.

This was the first time the governor was responding to audit queries raised by Auditor General Edward Ouko, who questioned why the county spent only Sh650 million out of the allocated Sh2.8 billion on development, resulting in the under-utilisation of Sh2.2 billion.

Mr Munya, through his Finance executive Muthomi Kireira, admitted that there were discrepancies in the budget and requested more time to reconcile the matter with the audit team.

The governor told the committee that his administration had created a country revenue board that assisted in the collection of revenue by sealing tax loopholes.

"In the last quarter, through the board, indications are that we are improving tremendously. We actually boosted our collection by Sh7 million," he said.

Actual relevance

However, the auditor's report indicates that the county's actual revenue collection of Sh5,311,634,915 fell short of the estimated target of Sh5,681,680,382 by Sh370,045,467.

Munya denied that his administration incurred an expenditure of Sh2 billion without the approval of the Controller of Budget.

Sharp differences between Munya and Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi temporarily disrupted the proceedings.

Trouble started when the senator accused Munya of making disparaging remarks about him and the watchdog committee in public forums last week.

The senator had visited Meru at the invitation of his colleague, Senator Kiraitu Murungi, and said that governors who did not honour Senate committee summons risked being arrested.

"As a member of the committee I raised an issue on non-compliance to summons and I said that governors who did not honour summons would be compelled to do so by police," he said.

He said the county boss later went to meetings and the media and alleged that senators on the committee had nothing to do except make noise.

The senator also accused Munya of calling him names.

"Today I want to tell the governor that I am the Senator of Kiambu County and a member of this committee," Mr Wamatangi said.

But his remarks did not go down well with committee chairman Anyang' Nyong'o and senators Kennedy Okong'o and John Lonyangapuo, who accused Wamatangi of dragging external matters to the committee.

"We will spare 20 minutes at the end of this sitting to deliberate over your issue. When we are through, we can deal with the matter between the two of you," said Prof Nyong'o.

"Bringing extraneous matters to this committee is wrong. What happens outside there should not get to this committee," added Mr Okong'o.

Nominated Senator Martha Wangari defended Wamatangi, insisting that it was only fair that Munya, who is also the chairman of the Council of Governors, have an opportunity to respond.

"I have been an MP for 10 years and although I have never been a senator, I understand the rules of the House and they are the same. Members are not allowed to take matters of the committee to the public," said Munya.

"When members take the matters outside and they are touching on a person and the person decides to respond to whatever is said out there, the rule is that the issue should not be brought before the committee," he added.

The governor declined to delve further into the matter, promising to sort the matter raised by Senator Wamatangi.

"I concur that we should settle the matter on a political podium," said Wamatangi.