- Officers in former governor Karaitu Murungis’ administration could only provide evidence of having remittance of Ksh. 3,307,598 concerning NHIF and Ksh. 2,459,200 in respect to NSSF thereby resulting in un-remitted deductions of Ksh. 64,136,602 and Ksh. 1,318,000 for NHIF and NSSF respectively. Governor Kawira is now demanding to know why the amounts deducted from the employees were never remitted
By The Weekly Vision
Governor Kawira Mwangaza of Meru County has turned her guns on his predecessor Kiraitu Murungi accusing him of having run down the county during his five-year tenure. The governor, who survived an impeachment motion in the Senate is said to have embarked on unearthing the ills allegedly committed under Mr Kiraitu’s administration, she believes the former governor had a hand in her failed impeachment.
In what is now being seen as a plot to expose Kiraitu as a poor manager who should not be given another chance to serve as the county’s chief executive, Mrs Kawira claims that records indicate that former Meru county Governor Peter Munya’s tenure was much better as compared to Kiraitu. Reports indicate that during Kiraitu’s tenure huge amounts in statutory deductions were never remitted to the relevant bodies. She believes Ksh. 67,444,200 and Ksh. 3,777,200 was deducted from various officers for National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) respectively but never remitted.
Officers in former governor Karaitu Murungis’ administration could only provide evidence of having remittance of Ksh. 3,307,598 concerning NHIF and Ksh. 2,459,200 in respect to NSSF thereby resulting in un-remitted deductions of Ksh. 64,136,602 and Ksh. 1,318,000 for NHIF and NSSF respectively. Governor Kawira is now demanding to know why the amounts deducted from the employees were never remitted. It should be recalled that Kawira has never had a cordial relationship with some members of the County Assembly (MCAs) of Meru. According to her, the bad blood between her and the MCAs is because she failed to give handouts and approval of illegal funds to them.
MCAs claim that former governor Kiraitu approved the same funds but Kawaira declined. However, investigations reveal that Mr Kiraitu used funds to appease the MCAs. Kawira claims Kiraitu used public funds to contain the pressure from MCAs. Investigations reveal that Mr Kiraitu Murungi approved the expenditure of Ksh.9, 699,800 to be paid to MCAs as per diem and transport allowances while attending various Committee Meetings of the County Executive.
MCAs have their budgetary allocation for domestic travel and subsistence under the County Assembly. In addition, there was a conflict of interest since the County Assembly is supposed to play an oversight role, yet MCAs during Karaitu’s tenure were involved in discussing and report writing for various departments for the County Executive.
It has also been noted that Kiraitu’s administration entered into a contract for the construction of a low-cost office block at the Meru County Public Works Headquarters with a contractor on the 28th of July, 2020 at a contract sum of Ksh. 10,424,273. The contract was to run for twenty-four (24) weeks up to 31st January 2021. Interestingly, Ksh. 6,133,503 which included a balance of Ksh. 3,990,992 relating to payables from the previous financial period – others (budget) and Ksh. 2,142,511 relating to residential buildings (including hostels), was paid to the contractor.
Audit verification on the progress of work revealed that the contractor was not on site and the contract period had already elapsed. Further, it was noted that fixing of glazed metal doors, interior flush doors, tiling, paintwork, fixing of steel windows, fixing of portable fire extinguishers, ceiling, sanitary, plumbing and drainage works, and landscaping had not commenced although they had been provided for in the bill of quantities.
