Auditor raises queries about Otichillo administration’s 96 bank accounts
Vihiga Governor Wilber Otichillo is on the spot for allegedly operating 96 bank accounts in different commercial banks.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, in her latest report as at June 30th, 2020, says a review of the bank listing indicated the bank accounts operated by the Vihiga County Executive had not been disclosed in the financial statements.
During the audit, management did not provide the bank accounts register detailing the account name, purpose and signatories.
“In the circumstance, the accuracy, validity and completeness of cash and cash equivalent balance of Sh675,875,158 could not be confirmed,” Gathungu says in her report.
Governor Otichillo, who is running for re-election, is also on the spot for questionable expenditure totaling to Sh3.8 million paid as legal fees to three law firms.
However, case files from the legal department and the fee note from the legal firm were not provided for audit review.
The nature of the cases could not be ascertained, according to the Auditor General.
“Consequently, the propriety of the expenditure on other operating expenses amounting to Sh3.8 million could not be confirmed,” the report says.
Basic wages
The devolved unit has also been faulted for spending Sh323 million in basic wages of temporary employees against the budgeted amount of Sh30.7 million, an over expenditure of Sh292 million.
The amount, according to the auditor, was not appropriated by the County Assembly contrary to Section 42(1)(b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015 which stipulates that the Accounting Officer should ensure that public funds entrusted to their care are properly safeguarded and are applied for purpose for only which they were intended and appropriated by the County Assembly.
“Consequently, the propriety and value for money on the expenditure amounting to Sh323 million, could not be ascertained and the management is in breach of the law,” the report says.
