Lawmakers demand accountability for millions flagged in county funds
Governor Stephen Sang appeared before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee after auditors raised concerns about irregular expenditure and missing financial records in the county’s 2024/2025 audit report.
The session, led by committee chair Godfrey Osotsi, examined the management of several county funds including the Facilities Improvement Fund (FIF), the Climate Change Fund, and the Nandi Education Scheme. Senators raised questions about accountability gaps and documentation failures linked to millions of shillings.
Surge in Health Workers’ Wage Bill Raises Questions
The hearing focused on a critical matter which revealed a significant rise in employee expenses that the Facilities Improvement Fund incurred. Audit reports indicated that staff expenses rose dramatically from KSh 540,000 to KSh 24.8 million, representing an increase of more than 4,500 percent.
Governor Sang explained that the rise followed the suspension of 1,899 health workers, which forced the county to recruit temporary medical staff to keep health services running.
The committee members required proof of the hiring procedure together with documentation that showed payments linked to completed work.
George Mbugua, a committee member, explained that the significant rise in staff expenses needed proper documentation to validate the associated payments.
Senators also questioned the transfer of KSh 15.4 million to Kaptumo, Chepterwai, and Kabiyet hospitals. The health facilities failed to submit their financial statements, which prevented auditors from determining how the funds were distributed.
The financial oversight system had major deficiencies because the organization failed to produce the essential documentation which needed to be available.
“The missing documents for accounting millions of shillings lead to Nandi residents facing the consequences of financial oversight failures,” he said while directing the county to submit the documents within seven days.
Climate Change Fund Records Under Scrutiny
The committee also reviewed concerns raised in the audit regarding the county’s Climate Change Fund. Auditors reported that KSh 7.23 million had been omitted from the trial balance.
County officials attributed the discrepancy to an accounting error related to a building asset that had not been properly recorded.
In addition, lawmakers questioned several water projects in Kiropket, Kiptenden, and Kapkawa. The projects were reportedly constructed on privately owned land without official titles or formal agreements, raising concerns about the long-term protection of the public investments.
Missing Acknowledgement for Bursary Transfers
The Nandi Education Scheme emerged as another matter of concern during the session. Schools that were supposed to receive KSh 50.2 million in bursary payments failed to provide acknowledgement receipts, according to auditors.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei criticized the lack of documentation, saying it undermines transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
“The situation is unacceptable because students who cannot pay their school fees have over KSh 50 million in bursaries which lack receipts,” Cherargei said.
County Given Deadline to Provide Documents
Governor Sang assured the committee that the county government would supply all necessary documents to clarify the issues raised in the audit.
Committee chair Osotsi directed the county to present the outstanding records to the Office of the Auditor-General before March 31, when the committee is expected to submit its findings to the Senate.
The ongoing financial record violations by counties would lead to legislative consequences, according to him.
