Samburu County Governor Lati Lelelit and his executive team faced an intense interrogation before the Senate County Public Investment Committee and Special Funds as senators examined the Auditor General’s reports for the 2024/2025 financial year covering the county water company, Maralal Municipality, and two major hospitals.
Presiding as sessional chair, committee Vice Chair Senator Eddy Oketch opened the hearing by warning that the Senate would not tolerate what he described as a pattern of administrative negligence and deliberate obstruction of oversight.
The tension escalated immediately when the committee turned to the Samburu Water and Sanitation Company (SAWASCO), which had received a disclaimer of opinion from the Auditor General after auditors were denied key financial records and supporting schedules.
Compounding the matter was the absence of the water company’s chief executive officer and accountant, who according to Governor Lelelit were in Ngara printing documents but could not be traced when the committee convened.
“This committee does not accept the explanation that officers whose entity received a disclaimer opinion are somewhere in Nairobi printing documents,” Oketch said sharply. “When the auditor says they were denied records, and the officers responsible disappear on the day of accountability, that is not administration. That is obstruction.”
The committee resolved to adopt the disclaimer opinion as issued and warned that failure to furnish the audit documents could result in sanctions under Section 62 of the Public Audit Act.
Senator Raphael Chimera pressed the governor on what appeared to be a pattern of selective cooperation with oversight bodies.
“Governor, the board chair of the water company is seated here, but the accounting officers who should explain missing trial balances, unsigned management reports and unexplained variances are absent,” Chimera said. “Is the county executive deciding what this committee should or should not examine?”
Governor Lelelit denied any attempt to frustrate the inquiry, saying the officers were finalizing on documentation and promising disciplinary action if they had deliberately skipped the session.
On Maralal Municipality, senators confronted county officials over an adverse audit opinion triggered by failure to operationalise key municipal functions despite the legal transfer of responsibilities under the Urban Areas and Cities Act.
Chimera described the municipality as “a structure that exists in law but not in financial reality,” noting that no direct funding had been transferred into its bank accounts during the audited year.
The committee directed the county to ensure the municipality achieves operational and financial autonomy before the end of the financial year.
Meanwhile, scrutiny of Samburu County Teaching and Referral Hospital and Baragoi Sub-County Hospital revealed that Ksh 9.41 million collected from patients under the Facilities Improvement Financing framework had been diverted to the County Revenue Fund, contrary to the law.
“This money belongs to the facilities that generated it,” Sen. George Mbugua said. “Patients paid it expecting better services. It must be returned.”
The hospitals were also faulted for storing expired pharmaceuticals while reporting severe drug shortages, a contradiction that senators said exposed deep failures in inventory management and procurement planning.
The hospitals were also cited for storing expired pharmaceuticals and losing Ksh 7.9 million in Social Health Authority claims due to missing documentation.
Responding to the findings, Governor Lelelit pledged corrective action.
“We acknowledge the gaps identified in the audit, and we will cooperate fully with the committee and the Auditor General to address them,” he said. “Where resources meant for facilities were transferred to the County Revenue Fund, we will refund them through the supplementary budget process and strengthen our systems to prevent recurrence.”
The committee ordered the county to submit missing financial records within fourteen days and provide a comprehensive status report on the rejected SHA claims within thirty days. As the session closed, Oketch made clear the Senate would pursue enforcement if compliance faltered.
“This committee works with evidence, not promises,” he said. “The audit opinions stand, and we will follow up until Samburu County answers every question raised.”
By Anthony Solly
