The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, today, under the stewardship of Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, deliberated on the Auditor General's report on the financial affairs of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company Limited for the years 2018 to 2021. Nathif Adan Jama, the Governor of Garissa County, was invited to provide explanations.

Following a meticulous examination of the Auditor General's opinions, the Committee recognized substantial deficiencies in the governance and management of the Company. Consequently, a series of firm resolutions were established.

The initial resolution involved asserting the Governor's direct supervision of the water company. Subsequently, the Office of the Auditor General and the Kenya Revenue Authority were tasked with investigating the financial transactions of the Garissa Water and Sewerage company comprehensively. They were directed to submit an exhaustive report to the Committee.

The Committee deemed the responses previously provided by the water company as unsatisfactory, necessitating the comprehensive production of documents by the relevant officials. These documents are meant to address the concerns raised by the Office of the Auditor General in the audit reports spanning the years 2018 to 2021. A strict 30-day period has been imposed for this, with the Committee emphasizing complete cooperation with the Office of the Auditor General. A subsequent date will be communicated for the review of these audit reports.

Additionally, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been engaged to conduct an investigation into the company's financial undertakings during the reviewed years. The Governor has been requested to submit to the Committee the names of the Managing Directors and the Board of Directors who were in charge during those years. If these individuals are currently serving in other capacities within the county, the Committee advised that they temporarily relinquish their roles pending the outcome of the investigations. Lastly, the Governor has been asked to present the CR-12 of the water company for the reviewed period to the Committee.

Senator Godfrey Osotsi was accompanied by Senators, including Vice Chair Prof. Tom Ojienda, William Kisang, Tabitha Mutinda, Eddy Oketch, Ledama Olekina, Karungo Thangwa, and Miraj Abdullahi Abdulrahman. Also in attendance was Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji, present as a friend of the committee.