Residents angry as Baringo governor snubs public meeting

A resident of Baringo tries to stop Barwesa MCA Joseph Maklap (right) from addressing a public accountability forum called by Civil rights groups at Kabranet town on August 3,2015 to have the county executive account for million of shillings lost during the financial year 2013-2014.The report of the Auditor general had indicated that the county failed to account for some shillings 500 million. [PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD]

Baringo residents took the fight against corruption a notch higher when they summoned the county executive to a public forum to shed light on queries raised in a report of the Auditor General that showed irregularities and misuse of resources amounting to millions of shillings in 2013-2014 financial year.

However, hundreds of residents who converged at an open ground in Kabarnet town yesterday were left disappointed after Governor Benjamin Cheboi failed to show up.

There was tension as groups of youth attempted to stop a few members of the county assembly from addressing the meeting saying the civic leaders were part of the scheme that looted the public resources.

Kipruto Kimosop, one of the conveners of the meeting, had a rough time calming down the crowd that demanded the MCAs leave the venue.

After a brief consultation with members of the Baringo Human Rights Consortium, MCAs Joseph Maklap, Reuben Chepsongol and Jenifer Kabon were allowed to address the residents.

Residents were enraged after Mr Chepsongol, the majority chief whip, claimed the convenors of the meeting were looking for hand-outs and that the civil society should leave oversight work to the assembly.

"One of our functions is oversight which we will do when time comes and if people are looking for money (hand-outs) they should say," he remarked sparking anger among residents.

The report by the Auditor General had questioned expenditure by the county government amounting to close to Sh500 million causing a public outcry in the region.

The report showed unsupported expenditure to a tune of Sh30 million in the department of health, Sh20 million in unsurrendered imprest, another Sh2 million unsupported allowances, single sourcing and irregular procurement of hotel at Sh701,000 and pending bills from local authorities amounting to Sh3 million.

Mr Kimosop regretted that even after Mr Cheboi confirmed his attendance via a letter dated July 29, 2015, he failed to show up for the meeting.

"The governor, through the county secretary, rescheduled the meeting that was to be held on Friday July 31 to Monday August 3 but he failed to show up," said Kimosop.

PETITION SENATE

According to a copy of the letter in our possession, Stellah Kereto, the county secretary acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Baringo Human Rights Consortium dated July 29, 2015 but regretted that the county executive would be involved in a prior arranged meeting.

Ms Kereto requested that the meeting be rescheduled to Monday (August 3, 2015), which was yesterday.

Residents resolved that they would hold a demonstration on Friday to pressure the county government to give an explanation on the issues raised by the Auditor General report on the county expenditure.

They further resolved to petition the Senate on the matter.