On Monday, Governor Susan Kihika faced the Senate Committee to respond to audit queries concerning a substantial rise in the expense for the Routine Maintenance of Motor Vehicles. However, the issues raised stem back to 2022, a period when she was not yet the Governor.
The audit revealed an astonishing increase in the expenditure for vehicle maintenance from KSh 40 million to KSh 727 million, translating to a 1700% surge. Governor Kihika, who succeeded Lee Kinyanjui, found herself in a challenging position as she was questioned about the enormous disparity.
“It beats logic how the administration of Governor Lee Kinyanjui spent an extra KSh 687 million on this particular expenditure,” said a resident of Nakuru County. Given that the financial anomaly occurred before her tenure, Governor Kihika was unable to provide a concrete explanation for the expense hike.
Speculations are rife regarding the rationale behind the expenditure increase. Some suggest that being an election year, former Governor Kinyanjui might have diverted the resources towards his campaign efforts. However, without concrete evidence, this remains a conjecture.
The Senate Committee’s scrutiny underscores the necessity for transparency and accountability in public office, especially concerning the management of taxpayer funds. As the probe continues, Nakuru residents await a thorough investigation into the matter, hoping for clarity and justice.
Governor Susan Kihika emphasized her administration’s commitment to financial integrity and vowed to cooperate fully with the Senate Committee to ensure that the truth about the expenditures is uncovered.
The residents of Nakuru County and the general public will be keenly watching as the investigation unfolds, eager to understand how such a substantial amount of money was utilized under the previous administration.
