Residents now want Baringo governor impeached

Governor Stanley Kiptis (left) and his deputy Jacob Chepkwony celebrate after taking oath of office in 2017. [File, Standard]

Governor Stanley Kiptis is under siege as residents push to have him impeached by the county assembly.

The residents support a plan by civil society groups seeking to collect signatures in all the six sub-counties; to pave the way for the county assembly to start the process of impeachment.

Some residents claim the governor has failed to initiate any tangible development while public institutions have been run down.

Isaiah Biwott, a civil rights activist from the county, claimed the governor's performance has been below par since he assumed office in August 2017.

The county government, he claimed, failed to spend Sh1.75 billion on development projects budgeted in 2017-2018 financial year.

He also took issue with failure of the county government to tame the wage bill which stands at over 48 per cent of its total revenue.

“An audit revealed an appointment of 413 additional staff for positions not advertised and those employed were not interviewed by the County Public Service Board,” said Biwott.

In 2017/2018, the Controller of Budget (CoB) reported a roll over of Sh1.75 billion, money meant for development.

Last week, CoB reported that the county did not spend any funds on development in the first quarter of 2018/2019, choosing to draw only money for recurrent expenditure.

“The county spent Sh575 million which was 89.3 per cent of total funds released for operations. The entire Sh575 million was spent on recurrent activities while there was no expenditure on development,” read the CoB report.

Baringo County Public Investments and Accounts Committee chairperson Nelson Lotela yesterday revealed that from the examination of the accounts showing appropriation of funds by the county, the absorption rate stands at 36 per cent.

Mr Lotela, a member of County Assembly representing Silale ward in Tiaty, said the county government might need a miracle to complete all projects initiated in the region.

Kabarnet MCA Ernest Kibet, a member of the committee, said they might not realise the fruits of devolution if development funds are not utilised.

Baringo Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony, however, dismissed the claims by the two MCAs, saying county was on course in terms of development.

County Assembly Deputy Speaker Zalemoi Ameja said the residents had a right to collect signatures but as MCAs, they would wait for the petition to be submitted to the House. Ameja said once the petition was submitted, they would look at what the law says about impeachment and the veracity of the allegations