Siaya County’s financial management under Governor James Orengo has been exposed as a mess, with millions of taxpayers’ money either unaccounted for or mismanaged. The Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 2024 paints a worrying picture of irregular payments, incomplete projects, and questionable expenditure that points to a serious lack of accountability.
Despite the governor’s promises of good governance, the financial state of the county tells a different story.
One of the major scandals involves the hiring of 1,218 community health workers at a monthly cost of Ksh 5.6 million. There is no documentation on how these workers were recruited, raising concerns about the transparency of the process.
Some of these workers were reportedly receiving Ksh 3,000 each per month, yet no official records were provided for audit purposes. This suggests possible ghost workers or a scheme to siphon public funds under the guise of salaries.
In addition to this, 32 staff members were paid Ksh 3.9 million outside the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD), a move that undermines proper wage record-keeping and opens the door for fraudulent salary disbursements.
The county’s revenue collection department is also on the spot. Revenue collectors were handed three-year contracts with a monthly salary of Ksh 14,675, yet there are no records showing how they were recruited or if due process was followed.
This lack of transparency in hiring raises questions about whether these positions were filled based on merit or political connections.
Such reckless management of public funds points to a county administration that prioritizes personal interests over service delivery. Another shocking revelation is the mess surrounding a stadium project that was originally contracted in 2018. The contract was revised in 2019, increasing costs from Ksh 394.6 million to Ksh 488.7 million, yet no documentation exists to justify the cost variation.
The project has been delayed nine times as of August 2024, but no proper explanations have been provided. This points to the possibility of inflated costs and shady dealings that continue to drain public funds while denying residents the services they deserve.
Unverified expenses are another major concern in the Auditor General’s report. A total of Ksh 3.9 million was spent on services that were not properly accounted for, while Ksh 14.6 million was flagged in legal fees. Further probe reveals that Ksh 5 million was paid to an advocate for an out-of-court settlement, yet no supporting documents justify the payment.
In another case, over Ksh 5 million was paid in a civil case involving the County Public Service Board, but no fee agreements or receipts were provided for verification. This reckless handling of legal payments suggests that county funds are being misused without proper accountability.
One of the most alarming findings in the report is the unremitted gratuity payments amounting to Ksh 2.8 billion. These funds, which were meant for funeral expenses, baggage allowances, and other claims, cannot be accounted for due to missing records.
Such a massive financial mismanagement scandal raises concerns about whether county funds are being diverted for personal enrichment instead of serving the public.
Siaya County’s financial records paint a picture of a government that is failing its people. Millions of shillings meant for salaries, projects, and public services remain unaccounted for, yet there is little action from the leadership to address these concerns.
The report exposes the glaring gaps in financial oversight, showing that Orengo’s administration is either incapable or unwilling to properly manage public funds. The people of Siaya deserve better than a government that cannot account for billions while services continue to decline.
