Conduct audit aligned to needs of residents, Barasa tells MCAs

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has asked the county assembly service board to conduct a thorough audit of the assembly staff to ensure optimal use of human resources for the benefit of the people.

Barasa said the board should review the assembly's organisational structures against existing staff establishment for efficient service delivery.

He said the assembly is ranked position 46 out of 47 in general performance due to poor or lack of proper systems of financial management and internal controls.

“My administration will offer necessary support and co-operation to the assembly to ensure we improve performance to the top five. This will include construction and equipping of a modern county assembly chambers,” he said.

The assembly leadership has in the past been accused of over employing  by hiring relatives, cronies and concubines, resulting in a bloated wage bill.

He said that the assembly had accrued Sh19 million rent arrears for the assembly offices at IG building and non-payment of rent for the speaker for five years.

The county chief also said there was conflict of interest in procurement of goods and services by the assembly where MCAs and staff are main supplies, either directly or through their cronies. 

Barasa said that such open graft cases must be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land, and those found culpable be arraigned in court to answer to charges of corruption.

“This should be a lesson to other individuals with similar motives moving forward,” he said.

“The work ahead of us is enormous, given the hope, trust and confidence the people of our great county of Kakamega bestowed upon us. We cannot afford to let them down. Let us get to work with renewed energy and deliver the best for our people,” he said.

Barasa was addressing an induction workshop for the Kakamega MCAs at Continental Resort in Mombasa on Monday.

The five-day workshop is themed, “Setting the stage for the third assembly towards understanding the roles and functioning of the county assembly.”

Barasa asked the ward reps to support proposals brought to the assembly by the executive, including the one to establish a ward development fund.

On Friday, the governor said he would allocate Sh20 million to each of the 60 wards for the fund.

The governor said that his administration would prioritise car loans for MCAs this financial year, adding that the loans would be given in a plan for repayment before end of the first term.

The governor said the assembly must exercise proper financial discipline by observing necessary measures to avoid graft and mismanagement of public funds and other resources, including paying attention to expenditure on daily operations.

“These, among other deductions and ethical practices, must be prioritised by the assembly, including strengthening internal controls,” Barasa said. 

(edited by Amol Awuor)