Tana River County Assembly Accused of Sh100 Million Fraud in Speaker's Residence Scandal

The Tana River County Assembly is facing intense scrutiny over the misappropriation of Sh100 million earmarked for constructing a Speaker’s residence that never broke ground. The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently expressed shock after uncovering that despite the funds being allocated three years ago, no progress had been made.

Senate Committee Demands Accountability

The probe, led by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has exposed what he described as blatant misuse of public funds. The committee found that while the Sh100 million budget had been fully spent, there was no physical evidence of the Speaker’s residence.

“We cannot sit pretty and watch as the people of Tana River are defrauded by leaders who should be protecting their resources,” Kajwang said, calling the County Assembly a "criminal enterprise" and condemning the officials responsible for the alleged misuse of funds.

Governor Dhadho Godhana appeared before the Senate committee to address the accusations. However, he struggled to justify the missing Speaker’s residence, failing to offer a satisfactory explanation as to why the project had not started despite the funds being allocated. The PAC voiced frustration over the governor’s vague responses and apparent inability to account for the money.

Following the PAC’s recommendation, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been urged to investigate the top county officials potentially linked to the scandal. Senator Kajwang went further, suggesting that the committee may push for the dissolution of the Tana River County Assembly due to persistent corruption concerns.

The Senate Committee also raised concerns over unresolved audit issues from prior years, including the stalled construction of the county headquarters, which, as of 2020, was reported at only 23 percent completion. Governor Godhana’s statements did not align with the project’s actual progress, leaving the committee unsatisfied with the county’s responses.

Another troubling discovery involved a budget line titled "other payments," which showed a suspicious increase over recent years. According to the PAC, this item’s budget doubled from Sh111 million in 2020/21 to Sh241 million, and rose again to Sh267 million the following year. Kajwang urged the Office of the Auditor General to investigate the nature of these payments and provide transparency on why the allocation has escalated.

The Tana River County Assembly scandal has sparked public outrage, with local residents demanding greater transparency and accountability. As the EACC embarks on its investigation, the people of Tana River are hopeful that justice will be served and that county leaders will finally be held responsible for safeguarding public funds.

Stay tuned to Active Citizen for more updates on this unfolding story and in-depth coverage on governance, accountability, and justice in Kenya.