Senators ordered immediate investigations by DCI and EACC and recommend possible prosecution to former governor Kaluki Ngilu
Recommendations from the county assembly disclosed that some former MCAs were involved in planning for the inferno
Ngilu risks being jailed for 10 years or be ordered to refund the amounts in question if anything is to go by as per the law
The Senate Committee on Tuesday 17th October ordered for immediate investigations and prosecution for Kitui former governor Kaluki Ngilu over the circumstances that lead to burning of finance documents on July 1st 2019
In a charged orders by the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee Chair Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang, he said the move will curtail other governors from setting ablaze finance documents while in office under disguise of fire breakout
The amounts in question that the Auditor General flagged as uncounted for are Sh10Billion that the Kitui County Government had been allocated for the financial year 2019/2020 which all financial records were reduced into ashes by ‘designed’ fire outbreak
“This committee orders that you invite through writing the Director of Criminal Investigation [DCI], Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission [EACC], to come and investigative all those were involved for possible prosecution,” Governor Malombe told by the committee members offside his contrary opinion
Senators led by Kajwang’ demanded the governor submit a written letter within the thirty days inviting DCI and EACC to conclude the investigations that has dragged for four years and recommend prosecution to capable individuals including former governor
“We are ordering that within 30 days, furnish this committee with committment letters. Direct accountants to do reconstruction letter detailing how monies for the year under review were utilized. Write to the National Treasury to request for the access of integrated financial management system [IFMIS] for FY 2018/2019
You will also furnish this committee with the report of the county assembly on their investigations and the recommendations on who was capable in setting ablaze and who should be arrested for prosecutions,” They ordered
Senators acknowledged they do not have a problem with incumbent but they are keen on preventing such behaviour where if the incident left unpunished other county bosses may start burning finance documents after the end of domain year to avoid scrutiny and being held accountable by the Senate
Additionally, senators established that Ballast Crasher and Manyenyoni Cabros factory were making total losses despite having spend over Sh 100 million to be set up by former Governor
Unbanked revenue collections
According to the report of the Auditor General, there are Sh 12.9 million which was collected by 139 people and failed to bank them at onsource revenue account, yet they are still walking scot free under county leadership’s watch
However, Malombe told the committee that they recommended for the surcharge as well as removing them from the lucrative position instead of firing them which would have created legal battle
Senator Enock Wambua from Kitui County, registered his dissatisfaction stating that the Sh12.9 million stolen by revenue clerks would have constructed several ECD classrooms or even several boreholes