Governor accuses MPs of using House probe to malign them

Governors have asked MPs opposed to the referendum to stop making reference to ongoing investigations before parliamentary committees and unfairly malign those supporting the referendum.

The vice-chairman of the Council of Governors, Salim Mvurya, asked Boni Khalwale-led Public Accounts and Investment Committee to denounce the politicians who were using the committee’s deliberations to undermine governors.

The governor cited the recent feud between Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township, URP) on Monday, at the Maasai Mara University, Narok County, after the latter accused the governor of failing to account for devolved funds amounting to Sh 184 million.
“The politician went personal. Consistent reference to this committee and the Auditor-General especially on a matter not yet concluded was quite unfortunate,” Mr Mvurya, who is the governor for Kwale, said.

He said the committee should not accept to be used to advance political interests of some Kenyans when their main role was to objectively provide oversight functions on expenditure of county funds.

“Let’s campaign but let’s stop deliberately misleading the public on sensitive issues like accountability of public funds,” Mr Mvurya told the committee when he appeared before it to respond to audit queries from his county.

WITCH-HUNT PURPOSES
He said the parliamentary committees should not be used for witch-hunt purposes against the county governments but, they should be fair in discharge of their oversight roles.

“Governors have been reluctant to appear before this committee because of political ammunitions that comes from it,” said Mr Mvurya who was accompanied by senior officials from Kwale County.
Senator Khalwale said the committee had nothing to do with the differences that emerged between Mr Duale and Mr Ruto at the public event.

“We have nothing to do with that war of words. Politics of parties will not affect us as. We are committed to our mandate and will not be distracted by sideshows emanating from politicians keen to use our impressive score card to push their agenda,” said Dr Khalwale.

He said Mr Duale has a duty to explain to Kenyans how the national revenue is spent instead of spending a lot of time focusing on expenditure at the counties that the Senate is satisfactorily dealing with.

“Mr Duale and his ilk should focus on the 85 per cent of national revenue that the President and his deputy control. The National Assembly has powers to oversight the national government as Senate examines the 15 per cent that goes to counties,” said Dr Khalwale.

Senator John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot, Kanu) blamed governors for their woes saying they are the ones who have been chest-thumping in public forums about how they have refused to appear before parliamentary committees to respond to audit queries.
“It is their attitude towards calls to account for public funds that has attracted the kind of criticism they are receiving. As chief executive officers of the counties, they have no reason to fear being held accountable for county operations,” said Prof Lonyangapuo.
FAILED TO HONOUR SUMMONS

The Senate passed a motion asking the Controller of Budget not to authorise governors Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), William Kabogo (Kiambu) and Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a) and Mr Ruto to withdraw funds from the county revenue Fund, after they failed to honour summons to appear before the committee.

The Muranga governor has since been cleared, after he changed his mind and appeared before the committee