Arati tells Senate only Sh231 million of Sh1.6 billion pending bills genuine

Kisii Governor Simba Arati consults with his with Senator Richard Onyonka during a previous event. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Kisii Governor Simba Arati has said that out of the Sh1.6 billion pending bills he inherited when he came into office only bills worthy Sh231 million have been found to be genuine.

Arati who appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in Nairobi yesterday said that the county pending bill verification committee flagged out Sh198 million as being directly suspect and was almost concluding its exercise.

The Governor said that some contractors had not come up to seek payment since their documents were not clear and that the verification desk was still open until the end of August with some of the ineligible bills due to breach of Public Procurement act.

" The pending bills for the financial year ending June 30, 2022 were received on assumption of office in September 2022, there was lack of clarity or explanation as to their eligibility in the absence of the existing ineligible pending bills committee," said Arati.

The Governor told the committee chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba that the county pending bills verification committee executed its duty and submitted its report in March this year paving way for the payment of those found to be genuine.

Arati said that his administration communicated to each of the contractors, suppliers and consultants on reasons for the rejection of their pending bills after which it opened an internal desk to receive complaints if any in regards to the decision.

The Governor clarified that when the verification committee started the exercise with a total of pending bills of Sh1.3 billion an additional Sh217 million worth of bills were submitted directly to the committee by the county departments and suppliers increasing the figure to Sh1.6 billion.

" When I came to office i promised the people of Kisii that I will ensure prudent expenditure of county finances, that is why asked for verification so as to ensure that we do not lose any money through payments done for no work done, anyone feeling aggrieved may seek justice in court," said Arati.

Roba commended the Governor for undertaking the verification exercise before making payment but asked him to ensure that his team checked on the work done so as to ensure payment is done for what is on the ground.

He said that the committee has a responsibility to protect the Governor from making fraudulent payments and also to ensure that the contractors get paid for work done and that justice must prevail on both sides of the coin.

The Committee Chairman asked the Governor to appear before the committee by the end of October with a full report of the pending bills and other measures taken to ensure that the matter is brought to a closure.

" The Committee has the responsibility of protecting the Governor from making fraudulent payments and also ensuring that contractors and suppliers who have done some work are paid," said Roba.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka had sought a statement from the Senate Finance Committee on the status of pending bills in the county government seeking to have the Senate furnished with a report of all pending bills for the financial year 2022/2023.

Onyonka sought the committee to indicate the total amount of pending bills in all county governments in the country over the same period outlining the amount owed to contractors and service providers.

" The committee should explain the reason for nonpayment and delay in release of payment to contractors by county governments despite the stipulation and timelines specified in sections 139(2),139(6) and 150(1) of the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Regulations," said Onyonka.