Wamuzi News Ke
In a heated Senate session on Tuesday, March 25, Kisii Governor Simba Arati found himself on the hot seat as lawmakers bombarded him with tough questions over shocking financial mismanagement flagged in the Auditor General’s latest report. The revelations exposed unauthorized hiring, missing funds, and suspicious medical supply expenditures, raising serious concerns about the county’s financial integrity.
At the center of the grilling was a staggering Ksh24 million scandal involving unapproved casual laborers who were hired illegally and paid below the minimum wage. Furious, Senator Richard Onyonka condemned the malpractice, stating, “This blatant misuse of public funds is unacceptable. Casual workers cannot be employed in secrecy and then underpaid!”
Governor Arati admitted to the irregularities, vaguely assuring the committee that the matter had been referred to the County Public Service Board. However, senators were far from convinced, pressing for concrete action against those responsible.
But the financial woes didn’t end there. A bombshell discrepancy of Ksh3.9 million in financial statements triggered further outrage, with Senator George Mbugua demanding accountability: “Governor, how can we trust your team when critical adjustments are concealed from oversight? What’s stopping this from happening again?”
Arati’s promise of a “more thorough audit” did little to calm the storm, as Senator Agnes Kavindu shot back: “Enough with vague assurances! What consequences will those responsible face? These reckless mistakes must come with penalties!”
The governor was further cornered over an unsupported expenditure of Ksh1.8 million on medical dressings and supplies—funds that mysteriously lacked proper documentation. He weakly defended the issue, claiming the missing payment vouchers had only now been submitted for review.
Perhaps the most alarming revelation came when Senator Onyonka exposed glaring inconsistencies in cash balances, citing unaccounted-for cheques totaling Ksh22.7 million—of which Ksh5.3 million had gone stale without reversal. “Governor, why were these financial blunders allowed to persist? Who is responsible for this negligence?” Onyonka demanded.
Arati scrambled to explain, stating that the cheques had only recently been reversed in the county’s cashbook, long after they had expired.
As the Senate committee continues its probe, Kisii residents are left wondering: Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Will anyone be held accountable for the millions lost, or will this scandal fade into yet another case of impunity?
