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After you, Joho says to DP Ruto on lifestyle audit

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho with his Party Leader Raila Odinga in Homa Bay on Sunday/COURTESY

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho with his Party Leader Raila Odinga in Homa Bay on Sunday/COURTESY

HOMA BAY, Kenya, Nov 27 — Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho says he is ready for a lifestyle audit to be conducted on him and challenged his recently acquired ‘nemesis’ Deputy President William Ruto to volunteer for the same.

Speaking in Kisumu during the memorial of the late Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ on Sunday, Joho said he has nothing to hide and was therefore ready for scrutiny by an, “international audit firm.”

His announcement came in the wake of an audit report that unearthed massive corruption within the counties eliciting sharp reaction across the political divide.

“Name an international audit firm of your choice. Bring it here. You know they normally insult Governors. I want to be audited but as that is happening, William Ruto should also do the same so that I as I defend the shirt on my back and so does Ruto.” he said.

Joho further tore into the Deputy President’s integrity saying that he has a lot of baggage which needs to be brought light of Kenyans were to have confidence in him.

“I know that all of what he is doing is as a result of using the strength of the people of Rift Valley.

My brothers in the Rift Valley, you need to re-think your position on William Ruto. Voting is not a joke and that is why we need to strongly and vehemently defend one Raila Amollo Odinga,” he stated.

Revelations of alleged corruption in counties by the Auditor-General Edward Ouko early this month put governors in the spotlight and energised their rivals ahead of next year’s election.

Less than 10 months to the next General Election, the county bosses are sitting on the edge of their seats after the auditor released another dossier of instances of corruption, triggering celebrations by those aspiring to unseat them.

In the latest report, the second since devolution, Ouko revealed what he termed as rampant pilferage and misuse of public funds running into billions of shillings and paid off irregularly to workers, contractors and service providers.

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Some counties, especially those in the western region, have been flagged for paying billion of shillings way past the recommended payroll figures as well as initiating questionable projects and services.

Central and Coast region counties are on the spot for opening suspicious bank accounts, irregular paid leave allowances, duplicated revenue receipts as well as payments of billions of shillings to projects that were not complete or viable.

In Mombasa, the auditor flagged the county government for failing to spend Sh1 billion allocated for development in the 2014/15 financial year. Departments of health and education had the highest balances of development funds, Sh318 million and S138.7 million respectively, according to the audit report.

In Kilifi, the Assembly has unearthed possible loss of Sh1.18 billion reportedly stolen through the Integrated Financial management System.

In Kisumu, the auditor questioned Sh405 million the county claimed was paid to staff but which was above the total sum of payroll figures, Sh23 million that was revenue collected and not banked as well as a further Sh58 million that the unit did not disburse to the Level Five Hospital.

In Homa Bay, there was an extra Sh342.8 million extra money paid out compared to goods and services bought, Sh6.8 million extra money paid out to employees, but which was above payroll figures, and Sh4.9 million paid for construction of VIP toilets that were still pending 10 months after the contract expired.

While in Kakamega, the auditor flagged Sh133 million travel and transport expenditure not itemized, Sh577 million spent “outside the payroll” for “undetermined workers” and Sh1.74 million paid to a law firm, way above the Sh150,000 legal maximum.

Kiambu County duplicated Sh359 million worth of receipts, leading to massive losses. The county also recorded a Sh328 million variance in the total payroll figures.

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