The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched an investigation into allegations that the Bungoma County Government misused public funds on a Sh3.6 million Christmas tree lighting.
The probe, initiated following a request by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, will also examine claims that 22 members of the Bungoma County Assembly and some executive officials went on a benchmarking trip to Uganda, which reportedly cost taxpayers a total of Sh6.5 million.
The issue arose during the questioning of Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka over queries raised by the Auditor General. The Senate noted from the Auditor General’s report that the County Government spent the money to facilitate the Christmas tree lighting event in September 2019—three months before Christmas. The funds were allegedly withdrawn from a county vote using a fictitious imprest.
On February 9, the EACC wrote to the Bungoma County Secretary and Clerk of the County Assembly, demanding that the devolved unit provide original documents related to both the benchmarking trip and Christmas celebrations. The request covers requisitions, budgets, imprest warrants, cashbooks, bank deposits, and personal files of implicated officials, including named Members of the County Assembly and key assembly staff who served during the period in question.
Letters signed on behalf of EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud by the Western Regional Manager indicate that the commission is investigating allegations of a fictitious imprest allegedly issued for a benchmarking trip by Members of the Bungoma County Assembly to Mbale, Uganda, ahead of the Christmas tree lighting at the Governor’s Office.
The letters instruct the County Secretary and the Clerk of the Assembly to provide the commission with original documents, including requisitions from user departments, approved budgets, and supplementary budgets for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years, imprest warrants issued, imprest surrender vouchers, imprest cashbooks, cashbooks, and bank deposit slips for imprest beneficiaries. They are also required to submit the personal files of Mr. Festus Juma, a sub-county administrator, and Mr. George Makoka, a ward administrator.
Additionally, the Clerk of the Assembly must provide personal files for 16 Members of the County Assembly, as well as the clerk, principal clerk assistant, principal legal counsel, Hansard officer, commissionaire, and driver who served during the period under review.
The commission has also requested all correspondence related to the benchmarking trip and Christmas tree lighting, along with any other relevant materials, to be submitted by February 16.
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