Economy

Auditor-general puts women reps on the spot over missing Sh4 billion

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Auditor-General Edward Ouko. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Auditor-General Edward Ouko has put women representatives on the spot over Sh4 billion transferred to county committees.

Mr Ouko, in his latest report for the year ended June 2017, raises the red flag over Sh4,013,958,103 which he says county committees failed to provide documents for.

“County committees’ project reports were not provided for audit verification. There were no accountability statements and supporting documents for the payments made,” reads the auditors’ report.

“Records of the county committees’ bank accounts were not provided for audit examination.

Consequently, it has not been possible to ascertain compliance with regulations, receipt of funds and validity of payments” Mr Ouko says in his report tabled in Parliament.

The auditor-general also raises questions about Sh123 million of the fund categorised as emergency reserve, which could not be traced.

The law stipulates that there shall be an emergency reserve made up of two per cent of the allocations, which should not be used for any purpose as it is meant to cater for emergencies. The reserve is worth Sh12.36 million, however Mr Ouko pointed out that by the time of the audit there was no money in the fund.

“No emergency reserve has been reflected and disclosed in the financial statements in terms of amount. The fund’s management appeared not to have implemented or adhered to the regulations with regard to the reserve,” Mr Ouko says.

The fund, established in 2016, is meant to address the plight of vulnerable groups by reducing poverty and inequality through their enhanced access to financial facilities.

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