Some former governors are facing summons by the Senate to account for millions of taxpayers’ money spent during their tenure.
The development comes after their successors were unable to explain the expenditures to Senate oversight committees due to a lack of documents and payment vouchers.
The revelations were made when they appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee and Public Investment and Special Funds Committee.
Among those whose successors said they did not find documents are James Ongwae (Kisii), Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi)
CPIFC chairman Godfrey Osotsi said his committee is considering summoning the former governors and other officials to table evidence on the expenditures.
On Wednesday, Kisii Governor Simba Arati said he could explain how close to Sh400 million bursary funds budgeted for between 2019 and 2022 was spent.
During the meeting, former county officials were accused of withdrawing Sh4.8 million in cash without proper documents.
The only approval for the withdrawal of the funds was a communication in form of a memo between the then finance and education chief officers.
This is contrary to the Public Finance Management Act that requires a county executive to only withdraw funds after approval by county assembly.
“I am unable to get some documents to fully resolve these issues. The committee should consider summoning the former governor to come and explain some of these expenditures,” Arati said.
“It is a bad practice which I have stopped. If you borrow money, then it must be refunded. If anyone does not follow the law, then disciplinary action should take its course."
Asked what had happened to the funds, an officer from the Auditor General's office said the county government said it spent the money to paying cleaners on strike.
Arati said based on the responses he got from the previous administration, the rest of the money was used for 'executive operations'.
In Nyandarua, the committee is considering summoning former governor Kimemia to explain expenditures of close to Sh50 million.
The development comes after Kimemia’s successor, Governor Kiarie Badilisha, told the committee he could not explain the spending due to lack of documentation.
“I'm unable to answer any questions in the absence of these documents. This Senate should summon the former governor,” he said.
During the meeting at Parliament Buildings, the team established from audit reports that the former administration disbursed bursaries amounting to Sh57.53 million in 2019-20.
Of the expenditure, Sh5.24 million was disbursed to 329 students whose admission numbers were not indicated to confirm they received the bursaries.
In Kilifi, Governor Gideon Mung’aro said he could not get contract documents for Sh300 million revenue collection contract that was flagged by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu.