EACC Probes Nyeri County Over Sh9.86 Million Fuel Fraud
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned senior officials from the Nyeri County government to investigate an alleged misuse of Sh9.86 million meant for fuel.
This follows a directive by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, which raised concerns about the questionable expenditure during a Tuesday meeting. Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s report for the 2021/2022 financial year revealed that the county could not provide adequate documentation to justify the spending.
One major red flag was the payment of Sh6.89 million to Mountainside Petrol Station. The transaction lacked vital records like fuel registers, motor vehicle work tickets, and receipts, making it impossible to confirm whether the funds were used appropriately.
Accountability Issues and Missing Records
Governor Mutahi Kahiga faced tough questions from committee chair Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’. “Out of the Sh9.86 million, Sh6.89 million was paid to one petrol station. Can you confirm which county vehicles were fueled and on what dates?” Kajwang’ asked.
The governor admitted negligence, acknowledging that proper processes were not followed. “We are guilty of failing to maintain accurate records. Fueling should only be done with local purchase orders and updated in work tickets and fuel registers,” Kahiga confessed.
The committee insisted that documents presented after an audit cannot be accepted. Nominated Senator Mariam Omar emphasized, “We rely on auditors to review records at the time of the audit. If documents were unavailable then, they cannot be considered now.”
EACC to Take Action
The committee urged the EACC to begin investigations, calling for surcharges and legal action against any officials found guilty of violating the Public Finance Management Act. Senator Kajwang’ warned, “Small leaks sink big ships. This money must be accounted for or recovered, and those responsible must face the law.”
Measures to Prevent Future Irregularities
Governor Kahiga assured the committee that steps are being taken to avoid a repeat of such incidents. The county has assigned transport officers to every department to monitor fuel use and ensure all purchases are documented in registers and work tickets.
“This will ensure all fuel drawn is approved and recorded,” the governor said, adding that officers have been trained to follow these procedures.
Audit Raises Broader Concerns
Although the committee initially questioned the focus on Sh7 million out of a Sh7 billion county budget, further scrutiny of the audit revealed deeper issues of financial mismanagement.
The investigation is ongoing, with Nyeri County residents eager for answers on how their funds were handled.
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EACC Probes Nyeri County Over Sh9.86 Million Fuel Fraud
