On Tuesday, Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza faced intense scrutiny from the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee over the county’s legal challenges.
During the session, Governor Mwangaza revealed that Meru County was dealing with a staggering 800 court cases. However, she failed to provide a comprehensive list of these cases, which raised concerns among the committee members. The Senate committee noted that the governor could only confirm two cases, despite her claims.
The committee further discovered that these two confirmed cases had already cost the county over Ksh601 million in legal fees. In light of this, Senators demanded a detailed list of all the cases, warning of severe repercussions if the majority of the 800 cases were ruled against the county.
“We need an analysis of these cases,” emphasized Senator Fatuma Dullo. “They have significantly impacted the county’s financial status.”
Additionally, the committee questioned Governor Mwangaza regarding an audit report from the Auditor General’s Office. The report indicated that the county spent Ksh38.9 million on legal fees in the 2021/22 financial year. Moreover, the Auditor General noted that there were no supporting documents for an additional Ksh9.4 million spent on legal fees from the previous year.
The committee also expressed concern over Governor Mwangaza’s failure to appoint a County Attorney, as required by the Constitution. In her defense, the governor stated that the responsibilities of the County Attorney were being managed by the Chief Executive Committee (CEC) in charge of Public Service Management and Legal Affairs.
As the Senate committee continues its investigation, the pressure mounts on Governor Mwangaza to provide clarity and accountability regarding Meru County’s legal expenditures and management.
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