Nairobi — Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha faced tough questions in the Senate after the county was found to have hired 50 private legal firms despite having a functioning County Attorney.
During a session with the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee, Governor Badilisha struggled to justify the engagement of external legal counsel. He told the committee that the decision to contract the firms was sanctioned by the County Executive Committee and followed the legal framework.
However, senators demanded documented proof to confirm that the executive committee formally approved the procurement. As of the hearing, Governor Badilisha had not presented any such evidence.
The committee is probing whether the hiring process followed the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and if the county obtained value for money. The law requires county governments to use internal legal resources before seeking external counsel, unless under exceptional circumstances.
Spending Concerns Raised Elsewhere
In a related matter, the National Assembly’s Special Funds Committee questioned the Ministry of Energy’s use of the Petroleum Development Fund. Lawmakers scrutinized the decision to allocate Ksh 35 million to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers for an energy audit, claiming the money was withdrawn from a fund designated for stabilizing fuel prices.
Principal Secretary Alex Wachira was asked to clarify the criteria used to approve the payment to the private body and whether the allocation aligned with the fund’s mandate.
Calls for Accountability
Public finance watchdogs have increasingly raised concerns about unchecked spending in county governments and national departments. Both Nyandarua and the Ministry of Energy have been asked to submit full records for audit review.
As scrutiny over public fund management grows, lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to procurement laws. Governor Badilisha, still under review, has pledged to furnish all necessary documentation in due course.
