Africa-Press – Kenya. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has been asked to launch investigations into Garissa Water and Sewerage Company for possible loss of public funds.
Senate’s Public Investment and Special Funds Committee was on Tuesday informed that the company took a Sh25 million loan and could not account for Sh59 million from World Bank and Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) respectively.
Appearing before the Committee chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama admitted that for nearly five years, Garissa town did not have water due to a Sh75million debt the company owed Kenya Power.
“Kenya Power disconnected power supply to Gawasco because of a debt of Sh75 million. The company was running its operation using generators which also became very expensive. But when I came into office, I entered into a repayment plan with Kenya Power and power was restored,” Jama told the committee.
“There was no audit department or committee in the company. There were no proper books and the company was running without a board.”
Efforts by the Governor to have the committee “spare us the ills and sins” of previous administration fell on deaf ears as members asked him to take charge.
The committee directed him to institute administrative action and ensure that the two former managing directors of the water firm step aside.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda had questioned why the governor had transferred the two former MDs instead of sacking them saying such a move will not help clean up the mess.
“Why did you transfer these two individuals under whose watch millions of shillings had been misappropriated?” posed Mutinda.
Jama defended the move saying there is a legal tussle between the county and the County Public Service Board (CPSB).
“We are currently having a legal tussle with the CPSB. If I’m to sack them and institute an administrative action, I must commit it to the CPSB which we have an issue with at the moment,” Jama said.
However, this did not sit well with the committee with Narok Senator Ledama Olekina saying the officials should not be allowed to work in the county offices.
Osotsi further stated they will pursue the company’s financial status through Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).
“We are directing the Office of the Auditor General and KRA to pursue financial transactions that happened during the years under review and provide a report within 60 days,” he said.
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