A businessman has sued the Marsabit government and wants the Treasury blocked from releasing funds to the county.
Mohammed Said Chute says he wrote to the county raising concerns over alleged misappropriation of funds meant to benefit residents, but his letters have been ignored. He filed his suit under a certificate of urgency.
He claims that the people of Marsabit have a right to dignified life and access to resources. He said that right is being violated and the county should be compelled to give an account of funds allocated each year from 2017.
Chute says there are glaring financial malpractices in the county for 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years.
The businessman says the Treasury is due to release funds to counties for the 2021-22 financial year and he is apprehensive the county will fail to account for usage of public funds.
He says several projects will remain incomplete unless contractors are paid promptly.
“The petitioner is apprehensive that unless the application herein is heard and dispensed with in the first instance, the respondents, who are enjoying their last year in office pending the general elections in 2022 will capitalise on money laundering and embezzlement of county funds to the detriment of the people of Marsabit,” Chute says in his suit papers.
He is asking for an order barring the Controller of Budget and Treasury CS Ukur Yatani from approving and releasing funds to the county government of Marsabit for 2021-22.
Also sought is an order compelling the Auditor General to publish and make available to the court financial audit reports for Marsabit county.
Chute further wants an order to compel Governor Mohamud Ali to give an account of Sh119 million allocated for Covid-19 pandemic response.
The businessman also wants statements on account of all statutory deductions and remittances for PAYE and employers' contributions to NSSF, NHIF, gratuity, LAPFUND and pension for 2017 to 2021 to be produced in court.
The court has also been asked to direct the county to file a report on budgetary allocations in Marsabit on drought mitigation, eligibility of all pending bills, use of IFMIS system on payment of county bills and usage of Ministry of Education, vocational and training grant support funds allocated for county polytechnics.
Edited by A.N
