The Senate County Public Accounts Committee has rejected a request by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro to postpone his appearance before the committee to explain the Sh10.7 billion in pending bills in the county. Governor Mung'aro had cited indisposition and requested that the committee also halt the planned inspection of various projects in the county. The committee, however, ruled that the governor's request was not accompanied by a medical report to verify his illness.
The Committee Chairperson, Moses Kajwang, stated that the Deputy Governor is constitutionally empowered to act in the absence of the Governor according to Article 179 of the Constitution. Kajwang emphasized that the county's operations should not be hindered by the governor's absence. The committee had traveled 500 kilometers from Nairobi to Kilifi County as part of the Senate Mashinani programme and was determined to inspect county projects.
Governor Mung'aro was scheduled to appear before the committee at the Kilifi County Assembly premises to discuss the issue of pending bills in the county, which stands at Sh10.7 billion, the second-highest figure nationally after Nairobi City County. The committee directed Kilifi Deputy Governor Florence Chibule to appear before the Senate committee and explain the huge pending bills, as the county must continue to operate even in the governor's absence.
Senator Kajwang argued that it was not feasible for the Senate committee to travel to Kilifi County only for the governor not to show up and for the Senate to leave without inspecting county projects. Kajwang emphasized that the decision to direct the Kilifi Deputy Governor to appear before the committee was not a precedent, but rather a response to extraordinary circumstances in the county.
The Kilifi Deputy Governor is expected to appear before the Senate committee to shed more light on the huge pending bills in the county. The committee's decision to proceed with the inquiry despite the governor's absence underscores the importance of accountability in county governance. The Senate County Public Accounts Committee is tasked with overseeing the management of county funds and ensuring that counties adhere to financial regulations.
The issue of pending bills in Kilifi County has raised concerns about the management of county finances and the impact on service delivery. The county's pending bills are the second-highest in the country, after Nairobi City County. The Senate committee's inquiry aims to establish the causes of the pending bills and determine how the county can address the issue.
The Kilifi County government will be expected to provide a detailed explanation of the pending bills and the measures being taken to settle them. The Senate committee's findings and recommendations will likely have implications for the county's financial management and governance. The inquiry is part of the Senate's oversight role to ensure that counties are managed efficiently and in accordance with the Constitution.
Key points
- The Senate County Public Accounts Committee has rejected Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro's request to postpone his appearance over Sh10.7bn pending bills.
- The committee has directed Kilifi Deputy Governor Florence Chibule to appear before the Senate committee to explain the huge pending bills.
- The Kilifi County government's pending bills stand at Sh10.7 billion, the second-highest figure nationally after Nairobi City County.
