By Habil Onyango
For the second time in a row,Homa Bay Govermor Gladys Wanga has faiied to appear before the Senate Public accounts committee (PAC) forcing the Senate to issue summons .
Pac chairman Moses Otieno Kajwang said they had expected wanga to appear before them to response to various audit querries in her government .
The Auditor General’s report on the financial statements for the fiscal year 2024/2025 had raised pertinent issues that the committee wanted Wanga to respond to
The Committee was also set to interrogate the County Executive of Homa Bay about the revenue collected and the County Revenue Funds statement for the same period.
Kajwang expressed regret over Wanga’s absence, urging her to take a cue from her predecessor, Cyprian Awiti, who consistently attended Senate hearings, even while unwell.
He stated, “I recall that the first Governor of Homa Bay, Cyprian Awiti, never failed to appear before the Senate,” he noted.
“In fact, I remember instances where he attended Senate sessions shortly after being discharged from the hospital,” he said
According to Kajwang Awiti did this not because it was a favor to the people of Homa Bay but because it was part of his core responsibilities.
“I hope that Governor Wanga will also learn from her predecessor.” He said
The Chairman further advised the governors to uphold the principles of the Constitution and devolution, emphasizing that these are crucial for transforming the lives of Kenyans.
According to Homa Bay Senator Kajwang, accountability is a fundamental pillar of their campaign promises.
He noted, “In Homa Bay, accountability has always been part of our political and governance culture.”
Kajwang highlighted that there are critical issues that require clarity, as mentioned in the Auditor General’s report.
He pointed out that pending bills in Homa Bay are on the rise, with the financial statements indicating that the County is facing Ksh. 1.5 billion in pending bills.
“That is a significant amount of money that is locked up within the County. If released, it could stimulate the local economy. Unfortunately, more than Ksh. 1 billion of that debt is older than 365 days,” Kajwang said.
He also expressed the need to discuss the escalating wage bill, which currently stands at 54 per cent.
Kajwang indicated that this percentage of the County’s revenue goes to salaries and wages, and noted that a recent audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that the Homa Bay payroll is riddled with ghost workers, necessitating a cleanup.
“This was a substantial discussion we had with the Governor in our last meeting, and we expected her to inform us about the measures taken to address the issues of ghost workers and the spiraling wage bill,” he stated.
Furthermore, the Governor was expected to clarify the County’s priorities, as some of them were deemed misplaced.
Kajwang noted that the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital is currently under construction at a cost of roughly Ksh. 270 million, while the County’s new headquarters cost Ksh. 800 million.
He questioned whether the people of Homa Bay needed an extravagant headquarters or a quality hospital for children and women in dire need of health services.
Wanga was also anticipated to respond to concerns regarding the slow implementation of certain programs, such as the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), which has been allocated Ksh. 1.4 billion as a conditional grant.
The project aims to improve informal settlements in areas such as Makongeni, Sofia, and Shauri Yako estates within Homa Bay Town, as well as in various locations in Suba North Constituency.
Kajwang remarked, “The Auditor General indicates that the project is not proceeding according to the original plan, and we wanted to know what plans the County Government has in place to ensure its success.”
Regarding the County’s Own Source of Revenue, Kajwang mentioned that the County collects a substantial amount of money, primarily from hospitals.
This should contribute to the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), yet the fund is not fully disbursed, which contradicts national legislation.
A conflict has arisen between the Senate and the Council of Governors after the governors announced their decision not to appear before the CPAC, citing issues of harassment, intimidation, and extortion by committee members.
However, they indicated their willingness to appear before other Senate committees.
On Tuesday, Wanga did appear before the Senate Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources to respond to inquiries regarding the FLLoCA and CCRI grants.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna had urged the Senate to take drastic action against County Chiefs who defy oversight, urging the lawmakers to cut funding to non-compliant Governors.
He said that CPAC work is critical in safeguarding devolution and ensuring transparency across all 47 Counties.
