Counties

Ouko queries Sh56m Murang’a spent on male cut, drug addicts

wa iria

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NMG

The county government spent Sh56 million on male circumcision and rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts, the latest report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko reveals.

Mr Ouko says that the Governor Mwangi wa Iria-led administration spent Sh17 million on allowances under the addicts rehabilitation programme, but did not produce supporting documents including signed lists of beneficiaries.

Another Sh8.9 million was spent of food and allowances for alcoholics.

The county also paid two consultants Sh6.9 million to carry out a baseline survey on alcohol and drug abuse and also write a report on male circumcision in the county.

“It was not explained why the county government used public funds on the rite of passage, which is normally carried out by the families involved,” said Mr Ouko.

He said the expenditure could not be confirmed because the county did not provide supporting documents.

The county further paid Sh2.7 million to a United States NGO as shipping costs for drugs and medical equipment worth Sh45 milllion that the organisation had purportedly donated. However, the drugs were yet to be delivered.

“The drugs had not been delivered at the county at the time of this audit and there was no indication that the drugs and equipment had been dispatched from the country of origin,” noted Mr Ouko.

He also unveiled irregular procurement of coffee seedlings, fuel, oil and lubricants as well as unlawful retention of staff.

Embu County was found to be using a manual system to account and record revenue collected yet it had spent Sh18 million on acquiring an e-collection system.

Mr Ouko said there was a difference of Sh388 million between financial statements and the audited books.

“The financial statements do not present fairly the financial position of the Embu county executive, its financial performance and cash flows for the year,” he said.

The auditor said the county licensed many alcohol and spirits bars but did not make available for audit, receipts, cash books and bank statements.
Mr Ouko also said that medical equipment was lying idle in hospitals and did not benefit residents.

They include X-ray and dialysis machines as well as Tonograpy scanners.