Orengo halts payment of pending bills, says all County financial transactions get his approval
Siaya Governor James Orengo has ordered the county treasury not to pay or engage in any financial transactions without his direct approval.
This is after audits revealed cases of misappropriation of funds.
In a statement on Wednesday, Orengo declared the county treasury to be ‘rotten’ and ordered payment of pending bills be halted until verification and confirmation, except in circumstances of vital services and emergencies.
Orengo made the statement in reaction to a Daily Nation article in which senior Siaya County officials were investigated for inexplicable and suspicious withdrawals totaling Sh400 million during the Rasanga regime’s final days.
“Indeed, without mincing words, the treasury in Siaya is rotten. The public is aware that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is also conducting investigations of cases of misappropriation within the County Government,” Orengo said in the statement.
“No procurements are being undertaken nor new contracts awarded until we are done with the application of prompt and effective interventions. The County Treasury is directed not to pay or engage in any financial transactions without my direct authority until advised otherwise,” he added.
Orengo has since constituted a taskforce commitee led by Former Auditor-General Edward Ouko. The audit taskforce’s mandate includes evaluation, assessment, and determination of the county’s workforce and revenue administration, with a focus on the previous two fiscal years.
The team will conduct an audit of existing financial and other internal control systems, processes, and procedures for budget management and IFMIS operations.
It will also examine the integrity and effectiveness of county government activities and supplier chains, as well as imprest accounts, retention accounts, pending bills, project management committee funds, and payroll.
The team began work on September 22 and is expected to complete it within 60 days.
Orengo also promised Siaya residents that nothing and no one will be spared as part of a thorough and decisive approach and response to the corruption problem.