Governors Mutuma and Kahiga face Senate heat

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) to respond to audit queries relating to their counties’ 2024–25 financial year expenditures, including stalled projects, land documentation and financial transactions.

In Nyeri, senators questioned Governor Kahiga over projects initiated without documentation confirming land ownership, a situation auditors said could expose the developments to potential disputes.

The projects cited were the County Aggregation and Industrial Park and the official governor’s residence.

CPAC vice chairperson Johnes Mwaruma referred to the Auditor-General’s report, which indicated that a Sh589 million contract had been awarded for the County Industrial Park. By September 2025, Sh93 million had been paid.

However, the audit noted that land ownership documents for the project were not provided for verification. The project stalled in May last year at the lintel and walling stages, leaving unfinished structures without roofs. According to the audit, the contractor suspended work after payments for certified works were delayed.

“In the circumstances, the accuracy and completeness of the property, plant and equipment amount of Sh506 million could not be confirmed,” the report states.

It further notes that “the construction of the industrial park for Sh589 million may be at risk of ownership disputes.”

Governor Kahiga told the committee that the land is legally owned by the Nyeri County Government following a court judgment in its favour. He said the county, working with the National Land Commission, would carry out subdivision to obtain a separate title deed for the project.

He also explained that the industrial park was structured as a joint initiative between the county and national governments, with each expected to contribute Sh250 million. According to the governor, Nyeri had so far provided Sh100 million, while delays in disbursements from the national government had affected payments to the contractor.

The Auditor-General also raised concerns over the construction of the official governor’s residence, valued at Sh42.4 million, noting that no title deed, certificate of lease or certificate of title for the 1.8-acre parcel was submitted for audit verification.

In a separate session, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma was questioned over 496 voided financial transactions amounting to Sh766.8 million during the same financial year.

According to the audit, the county did not provide reconciliation statements to confirm whether the voided transactions were subsequently paid.

Mutuma attributed the voided entries to issues including incorrect account details, cancelled withdrawals that lacked approval from the Controller of Budget, and unpaid internet banking transactions at the close of the financial year.

Senators directed him to account for each transaction and provide supporting documentation, noting that the funds involved were public resources.

The committee also gave Mutuma two weeks to submit documents relating to the tendering and construction of public toilets at Timau Stadium, after discrepancies emerged over the project’s location.

While the Auditor-General’s report indicated that the Sh1.9 million facility was intended to be built inside the stadium for use by players and spectators, Mutuma told senators it had been constructed outside the stadium to serve sports users and the surrounding community.

Auditors reported that during a physical inspection, conducted in the presence of county officials, they were unable to identify any toilet facility within the stadium. They further stated that an officer from the county sports department confirmed that no such facility existed inside the venue.

Governor Mutuma disputed the findings and sought to present photographs, but the committee declined to admit the material at that stage.

Kitui Senator Enock Wambua said tender documents indicated that the facility was to be constructed within the stadium and asked the governor to provide evidence of public participation approving any change in location.

He also questioned why documents related to the tender and construction were not submitted to the Auditor-General during the audit process.

Mwaruma asked Mutuma to clarify who authorised the relocation of the project and whether required procedures were followed, warning that the committee needed to establish whether it was dealing with one project or separate developments.

Under the Public Audit Act, failure to submit audit documents constitutes an offence. The committee noted that it would review the submissions once provided before determining any further action.