By Nyakundi Bw’Otwere
The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to recover KSh 2 million from the Kwale County Government following allegations of irregular payments made during the 2023 Devolution Conference.
The Auditor General raised concerns after Governor Fatuma Achani authorized payments to the Council of Governors (CoG) to cover operational costs for the conference, despite existing provisions under the Intergovernmental Relations Act of 2016.
Records indicate that Kwale County contributed KSh 4 million to the CoG in the 2023/2024 financial year, including KSh 2 million meant to facilitate Kilifi County’s participation in the conference held in Uasin Gishu County. However, an additional KSh 2 million allocated for operational costs was deemed unnecessary, as such expenses were already covered under the law.
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The Senate committee, led by Moses Kajwang, has directed the EACC to recover any other irregular contributions made by counties within 60 days of its report’s adoption. Senators further expressed concerns over similar payments made by other counties, questioning their legality and financial prudence.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu previously recommended stopping all irregular payments to the CoG. She warned that governors who continue such contributions should face surcharges, emphasizing the risk of misusing public funds and the need for enhanced financial transparency.
Governor Achani is also facing scrutiny over plans to construct a governor’s residence on a seven-acre parcel of land in Kwale, estimated to cost KSh 350 million. Initially budgeted at KSh 149 million, the project far exceeds the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s ceiling of KSh 45 million.
The County Executive had approved KSh 200 million in its 2025/2026 Annual Development Plan, but the proposal was rejected by the County Assembly. Concerns deepened after the contractor issued a warning on March 10, 2022, citing delayed payments amounting to KSh 27.6 million. As of August 2023, KSh 119.7 million had been paid, yet the contractor later abandoned the site, prompting arbitration between the county government and the construction firm.
Kwale County generates KSh 437 million in own-source revenue.
