The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed the directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate how Migori County Government transferred Sh78million to the County Assembly and how the funds were utilized.

The directive was issued by the committee chairman Moses Kajwang failed to account how the funds were utilised.

The committee wants the Governor to provide evidence how County Assembly spent more than 13 per cent of the County’s revenue for the financial year ended June 2020.

In the county’s financial statements, the statement of receipts and payments reflects an amount of Sh1.27billion in respect of transfers to other government entities, which include Sh1.03billion that is indicated as Transfers to County Assembly of Migori. 

However, the financial statement of County Assembly of Migori reflects Sh958million resulting to an unreconciled and unexplained variance of Sh78.8million.

“This is outright theft of public funds amounting to Sh78million. The money seems to have disappeared between County Assembly and County Executive. This money has not been accounted for. There was either overstatement of expenditure or professional misconduct on the part of County Executive,” said Kajwang’.

Governor Ochillo in his response said that that the variance was the balance from the 2018/2019 Financial Year payable to County Assembly due to cut off as reporting is on cash basis.

“These funds were transferred on July 12, 2019 after receiving the final Exchequer disbursement of the previous 2018/2019 Financial Year and other direct payments made on behalf of county assembly,” said Governor Ochillo.