MCAs in Egypt to ‘relax minds’ after tiring year
Eight members of Tharaka-Nithi County Assembly flew to Egypt on Tuesday, just a day after nine others returned from a one week tour in the north African country.
The visit comes even as the Auditor-General questioned an earlier visit by the MCAs to Israel.
The MCAs who jetted back into the country on Sunday night said the trip was not an educational one, but was generally a leisure tour organised by the county.
This happened as the county assembly adjourned sessions severally last week due to a lack of quorum to proceed with business because members were away.
“We received text messages today (Tuesday) that we should attend a sitting in the county assembly in Chuka but we are not sure if the sittings will proceed since some of us have gone to Egypt,” Magumoni MCA Royford Muchiri said.
“RELAX OUR MINDS”
A nominated MCA who returned from Egypt said: “We were going to relax our minds after a tiring 2014/2015 financial year.”
However, speaking on phone Deputy Speaker Paul Mwabu said only members of the Health committee recently went to Egypt to learn about herbal medicine.
“I am having the Health committee here (Egypt) and we are purposely learning herbal medicine. I cannot say more than that since I am very busy,” he said.
The tour has raised eyebrows in the county as critics accuse the executive of not caring about the Auditor-General’s disclosure of unaccounted millions.
Residents have called for accountability of the public funds by the devolved unit.
SH1.2M AUDIT QUERY
In his report Mr Edward Ouko says the county assembly failed to account for Sh1,267,200 used during a trip to Israel in 2014.
He also states that there was no evidence of competitive sourcing in regard to Sh3,645,960 paid to a supplier for services rendered to the county government during the trip to Israel.
Mr Ouko said the places visited were not disclosed, thus making the trip private.
“There is no written contract between the procuring entity and supplier as required.
“The purpose for the payment was therefore not clear. No invitations appear to have been received from the country visited or a resolution of the county executive sanctioning the trip made available for audit review thus raising questions as to the purpose of the trip,” the public auditor says.