Siaya Finance Minister defends Orengo in graft allegations by the deputy.
Siaya Finance Minister defends the county Governor, James Orengo, who was accused by his deputy, Oduol for Misappropriation of county funds.
Speaking during an interview at Spice FM, The county finance officer Mr. Benedict highlighted that the allegations by the deputy were baseless and not true.
He stated,”We have only transferred Ksh65 million to the imprest accounts for the period from November (2022) to May (2023). Between April and May 2023, we did not transfer any amount because we have frozen that account with plans to re-establish it.”
He refuted claims that imprest account was being used for graft citing that only the necessary monies for the county, were withdrawn and can be account for.
He stated,”We need to be very clear that imprest systems are not gifts for people to walk away with.”
The finance minister further pointed finger to the former regime led by former Governor Cornel Rasanga saying they abused county funds and that the Orengo administration made positive strides to improve financial management.
Althought, he revealed that there were attempts to defraud the county of Ksh5.4 million and again of Ksh2 million but it was stopped.
Notably, Mr. Benedit reprimanded the deputy governor, for raising the issue in the open public instead of taking it with the county cabinet secretaries.
He stated,”When you get something, and you are not satisfied, you ask for an explanation and escalate. Not everything needs to find its way into the public domain.”
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