Senators Give Kisii Governor 84-Day Ultimatum over Ksh1.6B Pending Bills
On Tuesday, August 8, senators issued an 84-day ultimatum to Kisii Governor Simba Arati, demanding an explanation for the devolved unit’s accumulation of Ksh1.6 billion in unpaid bills.
Concerned about the state of affairs in the county, the senators noted that suppliers who had previously supplied the county with products and services are now in debt.
The senators also stated that the accumulation hinders the local economy’s circulation of funds.
Governor Arati defended the accrued expenses while appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.
He explained that his administration lacked clarity and appropriate documentation regarding the eligibility of pending bills left by his predecessor, James Ongwae when he assumed office.
This, according to the county executive, necessitated the formation of the County Pending Bills and Ineligible Resolution Committee to investigate the legitimacy of billion-dollar bills.
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After conducting an audit of the delinquent bills, according to Governor Arati, his administration discovered irregularities in the delinquent bills owed to 90 different entities.
The investigation established that only Ksh231.4 million in outstanding invoices were valid.
Therefore, the county has settled Ksh111.9 million of these debts, while the remaining Ksh119.5 million has been factored into the 2023/2024 budget.
“Governor Arati, who appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, informed the committee that his administration inherited pending bills for the fiscal year 2021/2022 as of June 30, 2022, totaling Ksh 1,393,854,414,” according to a section of the session’s official record.
His government decided to temporarily suspend payment for all invalid invoices after this discovery.
During the session, it was also determined that the majority of outstanding bills were inherited from the previous administration, with the majority accruing during the fiscal year 2021/2022.
Therefore, the senators decided to summon former Governor James Ongwae to cast additional light on the matter.
Several governors have criticized their predecessors for leaving them with enormous amounts of pending legislation.
Senators Give Kisii Governor 84-Day Ultimatum over Ksh1.6B Pending Bills
