Marsabit county unable to account for Ksh.8.2B

 According to the Auditor General’s report, the county couldn't account for 8.2 billion shillings received, as the financial statements prepared did not correspond with the available records. As a result of this adverse opinion, the county automatically loses out on accessing any funding from the Kenya Devolution Support Program.

Moses Kajwang, the Chairperson of the Senate PAC, expressed concern, stating, "Our friends in the National Assembly who have proposed 391 billion will ask us why do you want us to send more money if the 8.2 billion we send to Marsabit County could not be accounted for."

Governor Mohammud Ali of Marsabit responded, "In that particular year, we had that problem, but please note that even before, it was as a result of improvement by our team that we qualified to get that 161 million. Unfortunately, in this particular year, as you rightly observed, something has happened, and as I have said, I have taken some action."

However, Senators raised questions about the actions taken by Governor Mohammud. Despite the financial department's officers being blamed for the financial statements, the governor merely transferred them within the department.

Senator Samson Cherargei of Nandi questioned, "When you say you’re improving, are you admitting there were incapacity issues in terms of that department that was supposed to do their jobs?"

Governor Mohammud admitted, "Of course, I have observed there was underperformance from that team. Wario is here as Director of Budget, but at that time, he was acting chief officer. So if he was acting and he ensured you get an adverse opinion and you rewarded him Director of Budget, then that is not administrative action."

The committee resolved to take a motion before the Senate to declare accountants whose counties receive adverse opinions unfit to hold public office. Governor Mohammud was also questioned for presenting undated, uncertified documents related to the audit queries before the committee.

Moses Kajwang urged, "I want to urge the governor to take leadership and ensure there is a meeting between your finance team and the office of the Auditor General so that they are able to authenticate all the records that come to the Senate."

Among the issues the committee is probing include inaccuracies in cash and cash equivalents amounting to 834 million shillings, unsupported county own-generated receipts amounting to 107 million shillings, overstatement of the financial statements totaling 2.5 billion shillings, and unsupported expenditure on the use of goods and services amounting to 738 million shillings.