Governor dismisses senators over Sh300bn wastage claim
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago hands over cheques to a group of youths undertaking several farming projects under an initiative dubbed 'Kijana na Acre' at the county headquarters on June 29, 2016. He has defended counties over graft allegations. PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago also took a swipe at senators eying gubernatorial seats in the next elections accusing them of launching smear campaigns against governors to discredit them.
- Mr Mandago, instead, said that the level of corruption at the regional governments was a t a lower level as compared to the national government in terms of wastage and theft of public resources.
A governor has dismissed allegations by senators that the devolved units failed to account for over Sh300 billion allocated to them by the National Treasury for the past three years.
The Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago also took a swipe at senators eying gubernatorial seats in the next elections accusing them of launching smear campaigns against governors to discredit them.
Mr Mandago, instead, said that the level of corruption at the regional governments was a t a lower level as compared to the national government in terms of wastage and theft of public resources.
He cited the Eurobond saga and the National Youth Service scam where billions of shillings are suspected to have been stolen by senior government officials.
“If there is high level of mega corruption, then it is at the national government and not in counties as claimed by the senate committee on devolution,” said Mr Mandago.
Mr Mandago, the interim chairman of the North Rift Economic bloc that brings together eight counties from the region, said that governors were ready and willing to account for every cent they receive from the national treasury.
In late June, the Governor issued bursary cheques worth Sh135 million to bright but needy students across the county.
He was responding to claims by a senate committee which accused the regional chiefs of failing to account for Sh300 billion released to the counties for the past three years.
According to the senate committee on devolution, of the Sh700 billion disbursed to counties since 2013, only Sh400 billion could be accounted for.
Led by the committee chairman Prof Wilfred Lesan, the senators said reports tabled before the senate by the public investment and public accounts committees revealed massive wastage of funds in the devolved units.
Prof Lesan who is also the senator for Bomet County said that due to the wastage, governors should be the last people to complain of shortage of funds in the counties.
His remarks were a response to complaints by county chiefs that funds set aside for counties in the 2016/17 financial year were insufficient.
“The Senators who are busy summoning governors should read the Parliamentary Standing Orders instead of using the House to settle political scores since we all know that most of them have interests in contesting for gubernatorial seats in the next elections,” said Governor Mandago.
