Kenya Insights

Tag: Nakuru County

  • Nakuru County Corruption: Exposing Financial Irregularities and Leadership Failures Under Governor Susan Kihika

    Nakuru County Corruption: Exposing Financial Irregularities and Leadership Failures Under Governor Susan Kihika

    In a shocking revelation, the Auditor General’s report has exposed severe financial irregularities in Nakuru County’s expenditure for the 2022/2023 financial year, casting a dark shadow over Governor Susan Kihika’s administration.

    The audit findings highlight gross mismanagement and questionable practices, pointing to systemic corruption and a dire need for accountability.

    Nakuru County Corruption

    Nakuru County Corruption: Governor Kihika’s Employee Compensation Discrepancies and A Billion-Shilling Mystery

    One of the most glaring issues identified in the audit is the discrepancy in employee compensation. Nakuru County reported spending over Sh6.9 billion on salaries, yet the payroll records reflect a total of Sh5.75 billion.

    This discrepancy of Sh1.15 billion remains unexplained, raising serious concerns about financial integrity.

    Additionally, Sh28.37 million, intended for the National Industrial Training Authority levy, was incorrectly classified under pension contributions, further complicating the financial landscape.

    Payroll System Malfunctions: Non-Compliance and Data Gaps

    The audit uncovered that Nakuru County paid Sh75.57 million in salaries outside the Integrated Personnel Payroll Data (IPPD) System, in violation of Treasury regulations.

    This off-system payment method, used for 199 employees, failed to capture essential data, compromising transparency.

    Moreover, the report found that 28 county officers had been retained beyond the retirement age of 60 without proper documentation, further questioning the administration’s adherence to regulations.

    Irregular Legal Fees: A Costly Oversight

    Another troubling aspect is the payment of Sh116.08 million to external law firms without adhering to proper procurement procedures.

    There was a lack of evidence for prior approval, negotiation, or itemized fee notes, suggesting that the legal fees charged may not have been justified or competitive.

    This raises red flags about the procurement process and the potential misuse of county funds.

    Procurement Violations: Bypassing Established Protocols

    The audit revealed significant procurement violations, including the purchase of drugs and medical supplies worth Sh525.10 million from private suppliers, in contravention of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Act.

    Additionally, Sh50 million was transferred to the school feeding program fund without the necessary enabling legislation, highlighting further irregularities in financial management.

    Delayed Projects: Unfulfilled Promises and Missed Deadlines

    Several key projects in Nakuru County have faced significant delays. The construction of the Sh288.58 million office block in Milimani and the Sh886.63 million Treasury Headquarters have both been stalled, causing concern among stakeholders.

    Moreover, the county failed to remit Sh88.90 million in pension deductions, exacerbating the financial mismanagement crisis.

    Inaccuracies in Financial Statements: Unaccounted Variances

    The Auditor General’s report also highlights multiple inaccuracies in Nakuru County’s financial statements. Notable variances include:

    • A discrepancy of Kshs.1,682,880,884 between the reported transfer from the County Revenue Fund (CRF) and the audited amount.
    • Unexplained variances of Kshs.20,162 in the statement of receipts and payments compared to the recomputed amounts.
    • An unexplained variance of Kshs.251,757,686 between the statement of assets and liabilities and the statement of cash flow.
    • Inaccurate and unsupported payroll and compensation figures, including a Kshs.1,148,662,673 variance between reported compensation and payroll totals.

    These discrepancies undermine the credibility of the financial statements and highlight the need for stringent oversight and corrective measures.

    Nakuru County Corruption

    Non-Adherence to Cut-Off Period: Post-Year-End Transactions

    The report also found non-compliance with cut-off period regulations. Transactions worth Kshs.1,767,106,640, incurred after the reporting period, were incorrectly included in the previous financial year’s accounts.

    This breach of Regulation 97(4) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015 further complicates the financial accuracy and completeness of the county’s reports.

    Nakuru County Corruption Scandals: Unsupported Expenditures and Patterns of Financial Irregularities

    Additional concerns include unsupported routine maintenance expenses, training costs, and research expenditures.

    For instance, Sh36,977,382 spent on vehicle maintenance lacked proper documentation, while Sh67,767,772 allocated for training expenses was not supported by adequate needs assessments or training plans.

    Unsupported expenditures in research, project preparation, and design also raise questions about the legitimacy of these transactions.

    Bank Balance Inaccuracies: A Lack of Transparency

    The audit revealed significant inaccuracies in the reported bank balances. Unpresented cheques and discrepancies between bank balances and cashbook records further cloud the financial transparency of Nakuru County.

    The failure to disclose and reconcile bank accounts adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing financial oversight issues.

    Governor Susan Kihika’s Leadership: A Call for Accountability

    Under Governor Susan Kihika’s leadership, Nakuru County has faced mounting scrutiny over its financial management practices.

    The audit findings reveal a pattern of corruption, mismanagement, and non-compliance with regulations. The discrepancies and irregularities highlight systemic issues that demand immediate and comprehensive reforms.

    As Nakuru County grapples with these revelations, there is an urgent need for accountability and corrective action.

    The Auditor General’s report underscores the critical importance of transparent financial practices and robust oversight mechanisms to restore public trust and ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds.

    In conclusion, the corruption scandal in Nakuru County serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Kenya’s local governments.

    As the spotlight turns to Governor Susan Kihika and her administration, the focus must shift to addressing these issues with the seriousness and urgency they warrant.

    The path forward should prioritize transparency, accountability, and rigorous financial management to prevent further erosion of public confidence.

  • Tabitha Karanja Spends More Time Drinking Alcohol Than Serving Her Mandate, Alai Claims

    Tabitha Karanja Spends More Time Drinking Alcohol Than Serving Her Mandate, Alai Claims

    Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has sensationally claimed the Senator of Nakuru Tabitha Karanja spends most of her time partaking in binge drinking forgetting to serve her oversight duties in the senate. Alai who was reacting to the impeachment threats initiated by the senator on governor Susan Kihika, claimed that Tabitha is oblivious of what’s going on in the county as she’s allegedly drowned in the bottle.

    “The problem with Tabitha Karanja is that she spends more time drinking alcohol than even trying to understand what’s happening in Nakuru County.” He said.

    “Please address Governor Kihika while sober.” He want further to fire salvo.

    Kileleshwa MCA Robert Ala (left). Anerlisa Muigai and her mother Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja.

    In a retaliation, Anerlisa Muigai issued a stern warning to Robert Alai while responding to his remarks about her mother.

    The Keroche heiress warned the Kileleshwa MCA to stop telling lies about her mother.

    “ROBERT and I repeat ROBERT!!!!! STOP TELLING LIES ABOUT MY MUM,” Anerlisa Muigai wrote.

    IG Post.

    rning and called her a spoiled brat, insisting that her mother is a public figure and as such is subject to criticism.

    “Parents, tell your spoiled little brats that the only place you can demand to be left alone and not criticised is when not in a public office as elected or appointed official. You can’t be so drunk and clueless while serving as a public officer. We will call you out whether your children likes it or not,” Robert Alai wrote on X.

    The move by the Keroche Breweries boss has attracted harsh criticism even from members of her own political party, UDA. Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga Is one of those who’ve reacted to the impeachment threats calling it political witch-hunt and a shame to womanhood.

    “Sen Tabitha’s call for the impeachment of governor Kihika is unfortunate and smacks of hypocrisy. It can’t be gainsaid that the people of Nakuru are in need of services. Gov should be supported to deliver on her mandate without unnecessary diversions and political witch-hunt. For God’s sake, women should stop being their own enemies!”

    At the center of the row is the Nakuru Senator calling on Members of Nakuru County Assembly to initiate an impeachment motion against Governor Susan Kihika for allegedly violating the Constitution.

    Citing the events at the War Memorial Hospital, where county enforcement officers raided the facility, and chased away doctors, nurses and staff, Karanja challenged the MCAs to take up their oversight role and initiate the removal of the governor from office.

    She said the raid at the hospital and the cruel treatment of patients was ground to impeach the governor.

    The calls for impeachment came just hours after a patient who was admitted to the hospital’s High Dependence Unit (HDU) died a day after the forceful takeover.

    Ms Karanja insisted that she was doing her oversight duty and the hospital saga had eroded investors’ confidence.

    She announced that she has no interest in the governors position and was keen to do her over sight role safeguard the rights of voters.

    “We are calling on the EACC, DCI and the relevant government agencies to investigate how public funds are being used as we fear there is massive embezzlement,” she said.

    The senator claimed that since the governor took office, she has been undermining other elected leaders and calling them names.