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4 Bomet residents file petition over funds misuse

"The Governor of Bomet has haphazardly and in ad-hoc manner incurred expenditure of public funds depending on his mood, emotions and personal discretion mainly in political rallies and forums," reads their petition/FILE

“The Governor of Bomet has haphazardly and in ad-hoc manner incurred expenditure of public funds depending on his mood, emotions and personal discretion mainly in political rallies and forums,” reads their petition/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 30 – Four residents of Bomet have petitioned the Senate to investigate alleged misappropriation of public funds by the County Executive.

Adams Kimutai, Erick Rono, Nicholas Rono and Frankline Rotich told the Senate Finance and Commerce committee that the County Executive has been awarding themselves tenders without competitive bidding.

“In fact those tenders are highly exaggerated and are not captured in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP),” said one of the petitioners.

They also alleged that the county has not been using the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), saying as a result, the Executive was spending county funds irregularly.

They specifically cited the 2013/14 financial year where funds were lost and failed to serve the intended purpose.

“The Governor of Bomet has haphazardly and in ad-hoc manner incurred expenditure of public funds depending on his mood, emotions and personal discretion mainly in political rallies and forums,” reads their petition.

Rono claimed that most of the projects by the County Government, for instance roads in most constituencies, were yet to be constructed.

“Most of the projects that have been implemented exist on paper; the number of kilometres of road done on paper contradicts what is on the ground,” said Rono.

He stated that despite the county having allocated Sh531.1 million for road construction only one constituency, Chepalungu, formerly represented by Isaac Ruto who is now Governor could bear testimony as over 100 km of roads had been constructed.

“We expected fair distribution of funds but we have not seen that. Konoin constituency has only 20km of roads. Chepalungu has more roads than any other constituency in the county,” charged Rono.

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He went on to accuse Governor Ruto of using county dunds to refurbish his private residence and implored the Senate the investigate the matter as the county was losing out on development.

Their concerns also include skewed employment within the county as Governor Ruto was said to be favouring his cronies.

A court is currently hearing the case of Rose Kositany the Director/Acting Chief Finance Officer at the county who is alleged to have faked her documents in order to secure the position. The ruling is set for July 2.

The four however could not submit some of the documents to back their claims and were given two weeks to submit them before the sub-committee Chaired by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o.

“We are sending you back because we want you to be thorough so that it does not appear like you are throwing tantrums,” said Nyong’o.

“You have demanded two weeks but that is a long time, please submit the documents earlier than that because we also have a deadline,” said Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow.

The residents also complained that failure by Governor Ruto to appear before the Senate Public Accounts committee put the county in jeopardy particularly on the issue of accounting for the monies allocated. However a court ruling last week directed that Governors should appear before the Boni Khalwale led committee to respond to audit queries.

The committee has a deadline of 60 days to probe the petitions presented to them and submit a report to the Senate.

The sub-committee will meet petitioners from Kiambu County Wednesday.

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