Nyong’o kicked out of Senate committee meet

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o was yesterday thrown out of the proceedings of a Senate committee for failing to produce crucial documents to support county expenditure.

Senators accused Nyong’o, who appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC), to respond  to audit queries of being ill-prepared for the session.

The county boss was scheduled to respond to audit report for Kisumu County Executive for the Financial Years 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

“We do not have the responses to the audit queries raised by the Auditor-General, as such we cannot proceed to listen to you Governor,” Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko ruled.

“We will only do so when you have the responses to every query raised in the three financial years,” Ochillo added.

Nyong’o is a former chair of the same committee in the 11th Parliament.

“You cannot try to lower the bar you set as chair of the committee,” he added.

But the county boss defended himself and his administration, saying the responses he submitted are the same ones he did last year. 

“I will be the last person to undermine devolution and oversight. We may not have responded to some queries but it is not that the responses are not there. We will provide them,” he said. 

In support of the governor, the County Finance Chief Officer Akaka Ramoya, said the change of top finance officers was partly to blame for the confusion as the new officials could not immediately get some of the documents.

Remedial actions 

While invoking Section 31 (4) of the Public Audit Act, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina asked: “If you had two years to file responses with Auditor General and you have not done so, do you mean you want to go and cook documents,”

Section 31 (4) of the Act states that the accounting officer shall within 14 days from the date of receipt of the draft management letter, submit a response to the Auditor-General, including remedial actions that have been undertaken to address any qualifications in the draft management letter.

“It is surprising that we are not benefitting from the best practice, it is like you were never taken through the responses you have brought here. I take great exception,” Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma said.

Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, the governor’s political nemesis, accused him of being mischievous even as he pushed for the county chief to be surcharged for taking the committee’s time for a ride.

“This is the second time the governor is appearing before Senate unprepared. We should not take it lightly.

We should apply our Standing Orders and impose a fine,” Outa charged.

“Some queries raised in the audit report are so grave. We would like to get the governor’s responses,” he added.