EDITORIAL: Reckless spending alarming

EACC must crack down on flippant State officials who engage in wanton wastage and pilferage of taxpayer funds.  FILE PHOTO | NMG

In recent weeks, the auditor-general has been making public reports on how State agencies and departments have spent funds.

And as in the past, the reports show that taxpayers have yet again been short-changed by public officials through possible loss of billions of shillings.

One of the latest mindboggling cases is the reported loss of Sh2.3 billion in a September 8, 2016 helicopter crash, five months after it was procured.

Loss to the public was total because the aircraft was neither insured nor have a warranty.

Besides, no documents were presented for audit review and there was no accident report to shed light on vital details of the matter.

Everything about the huge loss to taxpayers reeks of negligence and a lack of accountability by those charged with managing public resources.

And it is highly unlikely that the public officials implicated in the loss will be held to account.

The failure to provide vital documents to aid in audit underscores the cavalier attitude with which State officers conduct public affairs.

Public watchdogs such as Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, whose mandate it is to protect public resources, should wake up from their slumber and crack down on flippant State officials who engage in wanton wastage and pilferage of taxpayer funds.  

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