BY SHADRACK NYAKOE
City Halls finance Chiefs have requested the Nairobi City County Assembly Public Accounts committee for 10 days to table evidence on how the County government spent shs 206 million.
The Committee had summoned Finance CEC Charles Kerich and his Chief Officer Halkano Waqo to explain the expenditure.
On Wednesday, the two appeared before the committee chaired by Mabatini MCA Wilfred Odalo.
However, Odalo took them to task to table documents explaining how the money was spent.
The expenditure that was done in the financial year 2017/2018 had been flagged by Auditor General Edward Ouko.
On Tuesday, Waqo was not able to respond to the queries and said that the documents were bulk and could not be taken to the committee.
Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok wondered how heavy the documents are.
“During the Goldenberg Scandal, Kamlesh Pattini was able to produce documents in tonnes, so what is the weight of these documents? “ Imwatok posed.
Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto and nominated MCA Sylvia Kihoro asked the finance chiefs to table imprest books and the memorandum register.
However, Finance CEC Charles Kerich said they will table all the relevant documents and that if any documents are not available, those responsible for them “will carry their own cross”
According to the auditor general, a sum of shs 206,385,752 for unspecified payment was withdrawn by the county executive as evident by bank statements and transactions done at Equity bank.
However, the auditor said the withdrawal didn’t have appropriate authority, documentation or pre-numbered payment vouchers contrary to regulations of Public Finance management Act 2015.
The finance Chiefs said everything was above board and that they will table all the documents since they are available.