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Senators have directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe at least 15 counties for failing to account for Sh1.3 billion worth of bursary funds.

This is after the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee chaired by Vihiga lawmaker Godfrey Osotsi tabled a damning report after the scrutiny of the audit report for county bursary funds for the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.

The committee fingered Tana River, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Garissa, Kericho, Kajiado, Vihiga Lamu, Bomet, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga Counties for what they termed as ‘misappropriation’ of public funds.

During the probe by the committee, it was discovered that some counties disbursed funds to students with duplicate admission numbers while in some cases there was no list of beneficiaries.

 In addition, the committee observed that there were various inaccuracies and errors in the financial statements of nearly all bursary funds, raising concerns about incompetence, potentially geared towards fraudulent activities.

Further, the lawmakers established most counties were issuing bouncing cheques, could not also confirm that the money reached the intended beneficiaries while others lack documentation to support the disbursements.

The committee wants Vihiga, Elgeyo Marakwet, Garissa and West Pokot investigated for failing to explain disbursements amounting to Sh1 million, Sh8.18 million, Sh2.18 million and Sh112.26 million, respectively.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission conducts investigations on the possible loss of Sh1 million and provides a status update on the same to the Senate within 60 days,” reads part of the report.

In West Pokot and Machakos counties, the committee wants the anti-graft agency to complete its ongoing probe into alleged fraud in bursary management.

In Nandi, for instance, the senators ordered the anti-graft agency to investigate circumstances under which the bursary fund managers disbursed Sh102.35 million without any supporting documents in 2021-22 financial year.

“The committee recommends that the EACC conducts investigations on the unsupported bursary disbursements amounting to Sh102.35 million and provide a status update of the same to the Senate within 60 days of the adoption of this report,” the report reads in part.

It is for that reason that the committee indicted Nandi Governor Stephen Sang’s administration for failing to provide acknowledgement letters to support the bursary disbursements for audit review.

In Lamu, the senators want the anti-graft agency to probe Sh253.60million meant for bursaries for needy and poor students in 2021-22 financial year.

According to the report, the Coastal County failed to provide formal applications and other crucial documents to support the disbursement of the funds.

“The EACC conducts investigations on the propriety of the amount of Sh253.60 million disbursed as scholarships and benefits during the period under review and provides a status update on the same to the Senate within 60 days from the adoption of this report,” reads the report in part.

Further, disbursements amounting to Sh2.91million were awarded to students with duplicate admission numbers.

The committee also wants Lamu investigated for a possible loss of Sh12.10million bursaries in the 2019-20 financial year.

“The Committee observed that the management failed to provide acknowledgement letters and official receipts in support of bursary disbursements amounting to Sh12.10million for audit review,” the report says.

In Murang’a county, the lawmakers wants the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the alleged disbursement of Sh267.61million in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The report states that the county government failed to provide schedules containing references of schools and colleges, admission numbers, cheque numbers, dates of issuance and the criteria used in the selection of students for audit review.

The committee now wants EACC to conduct investigations on bursary disbursements amounting to Sh267.61 million.

Trans Nzoia County officials also face investigations over questionable disbursements of Sh100.47 million bursaries in 2019-20. The county failed to provide acknowledgement letters and receipts to support disbursements for audit verification.

In Tana River, they want EACC to investigate Sh43.98 million unsupported bursary disbursements.

In the report, the Committee observed that the management failed to provide acknowledgement letters and receipts from the respective institutions to support bursary disbursements. “The application forms and payment schedules submitted for audit review to support bursary disbursement to 108 students did not contain admission numbers,” established the committee.

In Kirinyaga, the lawmakers want the EACC to investigate some Sh85.84 million reportedly disbursed by the county to the beneficiaries.