Senators hint at push for Isiolo county dissolution

A Senate watchdog committee has directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and DCI to investigate how billions of shillings have been expended in Isiolo since the inception of devolution in 2013.

This even as Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) warned that failure by the agencies to ensure prudent use of resources will compel the Senate to invoke relevant constitutional provisions and push either for the dissolution of the county or stoppage of funds.

While describing Isiolo as a ‘crime scene’, the senators called on Office of the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit to determine the collusion between Executive and Assembly.

“Isiolo is a crime scene.” Nothing seems to be working in Isiolo despite the billions of shillings the county has received in equitable shareable revenue for the last 10 years,” committee chair Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) said.

This is after the committee could not trace the whereabouts of the governor, top county officials, Assembly Speaker, clerk and its Public Accounts Ward Reps counterparts.

Lawmakers now want a forensic audit that can establish the criminal culpability of the local leadership.

“The county should be dissolved so that the people can get leaders who are ready to serve. There is no need to impeach the governor. The County should be dissolved,” said Okiya Omtata (Busia).

Committee had visited to grill Governor Abdi Guyo on the queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General on the county’s financial accounts for the 2019-20 Financial Year.

However, there was no show for the Governor, a move that irked the committee to fine him Sh500,000 for failing to appear before the committee with a valid explanation and reprimanded the governor for his conduct which the committee adjudged to be unbefitting by the conductor of a public officer as provided in the law.

Rogue officials

Instead, the committee summoned to the governor who must appear before the committee on a date that will be communicated in due course.

“Failure to appear, we direct the Inspector of General of police to arrest the Governor and forcefully present him before the committee,” ruled Kajwang’ ruled after the no show.  During the tour of the county, the committee inspected the construction works of the proposed new County Assembly, the Mortuary at the Isiolo Level Four Hospital, the market under construction, the stalled works at the Isiolo Stadium and Mwangaza Dispensary, all within Isiolo town.

Interestingly, all the projects the Senators inspected have accumulated nearly Sh3billion but they have been abandoned with no workers on site.

The committee had visited Isiolo to grill the governor over the financial accounts for the 2019/20 inancial year, but the governor was a no show.

However, People Daily has established that the governor could have instructed members of his Executive not to offer any support to the committee, which he claimed was on a witch hunt mission.

During the meeting, Kajwang assured the public that where their interests are in conflict with that of the County Government – the Senate will side with the people.