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Nyakang’o defends disbursement of Sh533 million to Nyamira Assembly despite wrangles
Controller of Budget said she operates within strict legal frameworks and cannot act without proper authorization from county treasuries.
The Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has questioned the disbursement of Sh532.96 million to Nyamira County Assembly despite a months-long leadership crisis that saw two factions operating with competing speakers and clerks.
The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker Amason Kingi after Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni raised concerns about financial transactions undertaken by officials whose legitimacy was in dispute during the assembly’s operational and leadership crisis.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah pressed the Controller of Budget Dr Margaret Nyakang’o on whether she exercised sufficient caution during the dispute.
“Did it not occur to you that you should have been more cautious in disbursing funds to persons who were not legitimately in office, regardless of whether you were part of the court proceedings or served with court orders?” he posed, questioning whether legal compliance alone justified the disbursements.
Dr Nyakang’o defended her office’s actions, explaining that the Controller of Budget operates within strict legal frameworks and cannot act without proper authorisation from county treasuries.
“The Controller of Budget sought clarification from the County Executive Committee Member for Finance regarding the legitimate officeholders in the County Assembly of Nyamira accountable for financial transactions,” she stated in her report to the committee.
The crisis began in October 2024 following the impeachment of the then-Speaker, splitting the assembly into two competing factions. Each operated with its own Speaker and Clerk, creating an unprecedented governance vacuum.
The Bomet High Court ruled on June 4 that Enock Okero ceased to hold the Speaker’s office as of October 24, 2024, declaring all his subsequent actions unlawful.
Committee Chair Senator Hillary Sigei thanked Dr Nyakang’o for clarifying her office’s position.
“We will write our report based on these deliberations and share it with the Controller of Budget as we transmit our findings to the House,” he said.
