Questions raised over lost Sh5billion

A section of Kiambu leaders have asked the County government to account for Sh.5 billion revenue that was collected but lost according to the local assembly report, before they can receive more funding from the National Treasury.
Thika MP Patrick Wainaina said the county government should not be seen to condone looting and should be held accountable for lost funds.
Speaking in Mang’u, Gatundu North Sub County, the MP said the County’s revenue potential and exchequer allocations are enough to drive its development to another level. He said Sh.5billion is a lot of money that should not be left unaccounted for.
According to the report by the County Assembly Finance Committee, the county lost Sh.5billion from non-remittance and looting by enforcement officers. It adds that the County collected Sh2.9 billion in revenue since 2013.
A World Bank survey conducted on how much counties should get from their revenue sources revealed that Kiambu County has a capability of collecting Sh8 billion per year.
“This revenue collection potential and the Sh13 billion that it receives from the exchequer is enough to see tangible development projects in the county, but where is it?” posed Wainaina.
The looting revelations prompted Governor James Nyoro during a Saturday event in Igegania Hospital, Gatundu North Sub County to declare that his government was in the process of sealing all the loopholes that promote looting of cash collections.
He said the County has enough revenue sources and that they will come up with processes that would arrest looting and generate more revenue.
The County Finance Committee member Wanjiku wa Kariuki said during their surveys, they established that enforcement officers were off duty, leading to failure to achieve the revenue targets.
She cited Ruiru, Juja and Thika sub-counties saying the revenue collected fails to match the many industries, quarries and real estates in those areas.
“In a quarry in Juja sub-county where we visited for example, we established that despite the enforcement officers collecting Sh160,000 daily, they remitted Sh60,000 to the county government meaning that Sh100,000 was looted,” said Wanjiku.
By Muoki Charles