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Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

The rivalry between Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi and Governor James Nyoro played out yesterday when the county chief appeared before a senate committee to answer audit questions on the spending of Covid-19 funds.

The two exchanged harsh words during the session where the Senate Health committee pressed the governor to explain  questionable use of money allocated to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Senator Ledama Ole Kina, who chaired the session, and members had rough time controlling the tempers as the two leaders took on each other, nearly disrupting the virtual meeting.

Nyoro hard a difficult time justifying the  procurement of items worth Sh2.9 million without approved guidelines.

The committee chaired by Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito also sought to know why he did not issue notifications to successful and unsuccessful bidders for tenders worth Sh25 million.

Development funds

A special audit by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu flagged the anomalies which include spending of Sh328 million without work plans, double payment of allowances and irregular procurements of non-pharmaceuticals worth Sh8.9 million.

“The governor should tell this committee why his administration is spending nearly 80 per cent of the funds on staff emoluments with only meagre resources left for development,” Wamatangi said.

“Kiambu, a county that receives Sh12 billion cannot allocate Sh2 billion for development.

This has been the case, where people only get allowances and other benefits and development is not going on,” the senator added.

But Nyoro hit back, accusing Wamatangi of using the session to advance his political agenda.

“People should not use this forum for their personal interests. I have been civil all along but I am being provoked. Everyone knows Wamatangi wants to be governor of Kiambu.

He would want to hammer me hard so that he endears himself to the electorate,” the governor said.