Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale has intensified his criticism of Governor Fernandes Barasa following a recent report that disclosed unusual expenditures.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Khalwale expressed his outrage on his official X account about the revelation that Kakamega County spent Ksh11 million on food for the governor’s staff. He condemned the Barasa-led administration, describing it as corrupt.
Khalwale posted, “Kakamega County Government spends Ksh11,000,000 for FOOD in the GOVERNOR’s Office! Kakamega county is rotten.” He shared a video of the county chief’s recent testimony before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang, on May 23, 2024.
In the video, Governor Barasa struggled to explain to the committee how his administration had spent Ksh11 million on food for the staff in his office.
Senator Kajwang is heard saying, “I see a row that talks of personal allowances that are paid as part of salary, and an explanation there that personal allowances comprise meals to staff in the office of the governor, and the amount is Kshs11 million. In the prior year, it was Ksh18 million for the year.”
Governor Barasa defended himself by stating that the Ksh11 million had not been paid as allowances but had been used to cover food bills for the staff.
This explanation prompted further scrutiny, as he was then asked whether all of Kakamega County’s problems had been resolved to justify spending Ksh11 million on food. Senator Kajwang questioned, “Now you have chosen to explain that you used the Kshs11 million to pay for food for the staff in the governor’s office. Have we solved all the problems for the people of Kakamega?”
Governor Barasa requested more time to provide a detailed breakdown of the expenditure as outlined in his report.
Kakamega County Government spends *Ksh 11,000,000/- for FOOD in the GOVERNOR's Office!*
Kakamega county is rotten. pic.twitter.com/Dc2oSlVLaW
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@DrBKhalwale) May 29, 2024
Khalwale and Barasa have been at odds politically since Khalwale announced his intention to unseat the Kakamega County boss in 2027.
In February 2024, Khalwale criticized Barasa during the burial of his longtime farmhand in Malinya village, Ikolomani constituency, accusing the governor of misusing county funds. He specifically challenged Barasa to account for over Ksh982 million allocated for the improvement of several hospitals.
Additionally, Khalwale accused Barasa of using certain individuals in the county to undermine him.
