The Governor said seeking justice for Miraa farmers to access the UK market was a noble idea/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 14 – Meru Governor Peter Munya has defended the allocation of Sh2 million from county funds to settle legal fees for lawsuit challenging United Kingdom’s decision to ban Miraa saying ‘it was a matter of life and death.’
Appearing before the Senate Public and Investment Committee which is looking into audit queries from the Financial Year 2013-2014, Munya said he was forced to step in to supplement the Miraa farmers who had already moved to court to save the regions key currency earner.
The Governor said seeking justice for Miraa farmers to access the UK market was a noble idea.
The Auditor General had flagged it as an irregular expenditure because there was no prove of cabinet approval or a budget vote allocation facilitating the donation.
However Committee chairman Anyang’ Nyong’o, Senators Boni Khalwale and Amos Wako came to the defence of Munya saying governors had line vote for donations but urged Munya to regularize the payment.
The senators said though it was proper to invest in the case, appropriate approvals were not sought before the money was released.
Munya told the Senate team that the donation which was in public interest has cabinet approval.
Senators Okongo Mongare backed the Auditor by saying that governors should not be given blanket cheques to spend without requisite approvals.
Other well-wishers contributed to the harambee with Deputy President William Ruto pledging Sh5 million.
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