A Senate watchdog committee has called upon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conduct an investigation in Machakos County regarding the alteration of bursary cheques, which resulted in benefits to only a select few individuals. The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, chaired by Vihiga lawmaker Godfrey Osotsi, was informed of the situation during a session yesterday.
The auditor general’s report had flagged the anomaly, indicating a potential collaboration between Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) officials at the Machakos Branch and County officials. It was revealed that some cheques were tampered with, with perpetrators adding an extra zero to inflate the amounts allocated to needy students.
Osotsi described the matter as clear fraud, expressing concern that the actual amounts misappropriated could be even higher. The committee directed the EACC to take immediate action to identify and apprehend those responsible for the fraudulent activities. During the session, the committee also reviewed the County bursary fund, County Executive Committee, Chief Officers Car Loan and Mortgage scheme for the financial years 2019/20, 2020/2021, and 2021/22, as well as received a status report of the Machakos County Emergency Fund.
According to the audit report ending June 2021, the financial records show general expenses of Sh34.3 million, inclusive of bursaries totaling Sh34,309,984. However, there was a discrepancy noted in the disbursement of bursaries, with a total of Sh36,550,000 disbursed during the year, resulting in a variance of Sh2,240,052 between the two reports, which remained unexplained or reconciled. Governor Wavinya Ndeti explained to the committee that her administration had reconciled the difference of Sh2,240,052, attributing it to bank charges, operational expenses, fund administration costs, and a surplus carried forward for the year.
