Nyeri Speaker and clerk on the spot over Sh5m payout
By Rawlings, October 31, 2023
A Senate watchdog committee wants Nyeri County Assembly officials surcharged for renewing subscriptions to Counties Assembly Forum (CAF) and Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) at a cost of Sh5.2 million.
Senate Public Accounts Committee said the two bodies have no backing in law and any Assembly official who authorises any payment should be held responsible and the money recovered from them.
Yesterday, while appearing before the committee, Nyeri Speaker James Mwangi and Clerk Jenard Mwiggeh were at pains to explain why they have been sending subscriptions to the two entities without the backing of the law. Committee chair Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) told the officials that such an expenditure is irregular, adding that any public entity using taxpayers’ money should be audited by the Auditor General.
“This is irregular expenditure. Subscription fees to CAF and SOCATT are not backed by any law. If it is an irregular charge, then someone must take responsibility. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) will be demanding a recovery,” said Kajwang’.
However, Mwiggeh defended the Assembly, saying they did not pay SOCATT Sh750,000 due to budgetary constraints. “We didn’t pay CAF or SOCATT because of budgetary challenges. But if the money would have been available we would have paid because these are two bodies registered with the Registrar of Societies,” said Mwiggeh.
On his part, the Speaker told the committee that although there has been no law that backs the County Assemblies to remit funds to the two bodies, there is every justifiable reason that they need funds.
“CAF is responsible for the coordination of the 47 County Assemblies and they need funds to pay for the offices and other operations within the Secretariat,” said Mwangi.