Transition Authority: Former council officials grabbed public assets

Most of the assets and liabilities of Central Kenya's former local authorities are yet to be accounted for, the third year into devolution.

This is according to an audit carried out by Transition Authority (TA) and county assemblies oversight committees which found that some officials of the defunct entities plundered resources during the transition period while others are yet to account for some assets.

Counties mentioned in the report are Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Murang'a.

In Kirinyaga County, for example, some chief officers of the three defunct local authorities have been accused of irregularly transferring properties to either their cronies or themselves through proxies between 2012 and March 27, 2013.

In Nyeri County, it was determined that assets and liabilities belonging to the former defunct local authorities are yet to be accounted for.

A report on the performance of seven former local authorities in Murang'a has exposed how administrators failed to close down their bank accounts by March 7, 2013 as required in law.

They are accused of continuing to operate these bank accounts despite the onset of county governments.

In the Kirinyaga case, some of the transferred properties include prime land, motor vehicles and uncontrolled withdrawal of cash from the accounts of such local authorities.

At a public hearing held at the Kerugoya Catholic Hall yesterday, TA Vice Chairperson Angeline Hongo told residents that the defunct Kirinyaga County Council, Kerugoya-Kutus Municipal Council and the Sagana-Kagio Town Council left behind liabilities worth Sh142 million which have since been "inherited" by the county government.

"Fortunately, we have been able to document everything that belonged to the defunct local authorities and whatever has been disposed of or transferred to an individual illegally must revert back to the public," she said.

Ms Hongo, who was presiding over the hearing, said it is unfortunate that some officers implicated in the mega scam are now serving in different capacities within the county.

Bear burden

Governor Joseph Ndathi, who was also present, asked the Government to take over all liabilities which had accrued before devolution.

"I appeal to the Government to treat county governments as small boys in a family where the old boy normally shoulders the burden of the larger family," he said.

He said unless the liabilities are taken over by the Government, the county governments are likely to suffer in terms of service delivery given the meager resources they receive on an annual basis.

In Nyeri, a similar session was snubbed by top county officials and TA County Coordinator Faith Mbugua said some assets are yet to be accounted for and records show Nyeri has assets worth Sh143 billion and liabilities of Sh62 billion.

Ms Mbugua said according to unaudited TA reports, information on assets like motor vehicle log books and cash books belonging to the defunct bodies were found missing or inconsistent with the documents provided.

"We have prepared an inventory for all asset and liabilities with a view of transferring them to either of the two levels of government. We have however, found a lot of grey areas on some of them," she said.

The authorities in question include the Municipal Council of Nyeri, Municipal Council of Karatina, Town Council of Othaya and the County Council of Nyeri.

"The aim of this exercise is to capture missing information in the inventory, fill any gaps that may exist in TA records and identify aspects that need future interrogation," she said.

The official said this exercise is expected to enable TA have a comprehensive inventory of all government assets and liabilities.

In Murang'a, TA officials on Tuesday held a meeting with county assembly members focusing on a report on verification of assets and liabilities of the defunct local authorities.