By Mashariki News Team
As governors prepare to answer hard questions to various oversight and government bodies on the issues raised by the auditor general, the local residents and political opponents of the current governors in the upper eastern region have raised their voices criticizing the current county governments.
Most governors in this region have found themselves in situations they would not have wished to be after the audit.
Despite all the county chiefs putting brave faces and proclaiming their innocence; the political heat in the counties is increasing day after day a situation that’s threatening their political careers.
Political opponents of the sitting governors have taken advantage of the report to castigate the heads of government for political mileage and blackmail.
The auditor general’s report which is in the public domain has raised several issues of misuse of public funds in procuring of good and services in the counties.
Human resources issues have also been raised where some counties have retained civil servants who are over the stipulated retirement age, other counties are still carrying the cross of paying ghost workers in various areas.
Some county governments are also accused of engaging in projects without need assessment reports and diverting county money to other uses outside the county government’s mandate.
With county assemblies allocating the biggest percentage of the little resources to both domestic and foreign travel, many local residents have been left wondering if the representatives they elected will have time to focus on their mandate of legislation, representation, and oversight as per their terms of service.
Lack of proper documentation and failure to follow the right procurement procedure as required by the law is the major issue brought out by the auditor-general across the six counties of the upper eastern region.
However, the governors have resources stood firm to defend themselves over issues raised by the auditor general.
In Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi who has been highly criticized by Meru senator Mithika Linturi and EALA MP Mpuru Aburi has dismissed his critics and assured the local residents that his dream of making Meru great is still valid.
‘ I have left everything to God, the report and other issues raised by those criticizing my government cannot make me have sleepless nights, anybody who feels that the government is failing should come out clearly and bring out the issues’ Kiraitu told journalist in a recent event.
In Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki is also not in good talking terms with his senator prof Kithure Kindiki and a section of local residents over several governance issues that include the recently released auditor general’s report, but Muthomi is confident that he is executing his mandate of transforming the lives of residents of Tharaka Nithi county well.
Isiolo Governor Dr. Mohamed Kuti has also found himself in a tight corner following many financial related issues.
The county is facing serious food shortage and the auditor general has queried the unprocedural use of public money to purchase and distribute emergency and relief food in the county.
After surviving an electoral petition at the Supreme Court, Embu Governor Martin Wambora is still not comfortable in his office, this is a result of many issues raised by the auditor general on how Wambora who is serving his second term in office is using the little resources intended to help the residents of Embu County.
However, Wambora believes his government officers are doing good work that is impacting positively on the lives of the residents of Embu County.
Samburu Governor Moses Lenakulal is the most troubled man in the region, as he continues with his corruption case in the courts, the auditor general’s report has released another damning revelation that requires the Governor to explain. Among the issues raised by the auditor general include payment of non-existing water kiosks in the county.
Governor Ali Mohamed of Marsabit who is serving his first term in office is expected to shed more light on many audit issues appearing in auditor general’s report. The report has shocked many residents of Marsabit.
County who include a section of politicians who are criticizing his government.
