Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has defended the decision by the county government to open at least 352 bank accounts in several commercial banks, despite concerns raised by the Controller of Budget.
Lusaka, while appearing before the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations committee, assured senators that all the commercial bank accounts were legal and had complied with all the requirements.
The county boss said that this was despite the reports by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o questioning the legality of the accounts.
Nyakang’o in her report named Bungoma County as one of the counties with the largest number of bank accounts in the country, making it difficult for the auditors to audit them.
But speaking before the Senate committee Lusaka argued that the accounts were established with the approval of the Controller of Budget and the Central Bank of Kenya.
“I am confirming that we have 352 bank accounts. But most of the accounts belong to vocational training centres (VTCs) and health facilities and dispensaries in the county,” governor Lusaka said.
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The county boss, while giving the breakdown of the bank accounts, revealed that vocational training centres in the county have 152 accounts, while health facilities have 146.
The rest of the bank accounts according to the Bungoma County boss belong to Established Public Funds (10), Special Purpose (9) Project Management (1), Sub County Imprest (9), Mabanga Operation (19), Level 4 and 5 Hospitals (19), Own Source Revenue Collection (4).
“Our health facilities receive funds directly from donors. This, in turn, requires them to maintain individual separate accounts. These accounts are fully audited and included in our quarterly financial statements,” Lusaka said when he appeared before the committee chaired by Wajir senator Abass Mohamed.
Abass requested additional information, including the names of individuals managing the accounts so that his Committee could get to the bottom of the matter.
“We need a detailed report on the accounts within three weeks,” the committee chairperson directed.
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