Famous Meru Human Rights Activist Salesio Thuranira Mutuma has urged the Senate to investigate the Meru County government over alleged mismanagement and abuse of imprest accounts in the financial year 2022/2023
In his petition to the Senate Thuranira accused the governor Kawira Mwangaza-led government of operating the imprest accounts in total violation and contravention of the constitution.
Stating his facts and findings Thuranira cited a statement sought by the Meru County Assembly Minority leader Mwenda Ithili seeking a statement over the operational Status of the imprest account of the executive arm of the County Government of Meru in the mentioned financial year.
Thuranira accused the County Government of Meru of failing to respond to the statement sought by Mr Ithili.
The activist further challenged the minority leader’s decision to withdraw his statement five months later.
“On 24th November 2022, the Clerk of the County Assembly of Meru, Mr. wrote a letter to the Finance and Economic Planning Executive Member of the County Government of Meru informing her that Hon. Joseph Mwenda Ithili, on 23rd November 2022 during the Afternoon Siting from the Chairperson of the Sectoral Committee on County Finance and ICT sought statement on the operational status of the imprest account of the executive arm of the County Government of Meru in the Financial Year 2022/2023
However, Ithili wrote Internal Memo to the Speaker of the County Assembly of Meru seeking to withdraw from the aforementioned statement without giving reasons or circumstances for his withdrawal. Why did the executive arm of the County Government of Meru not respond to the sought Statement in five months? Why did Mr Joseph Mwenda Ithili take five months to withdraw from seeking the aforementioned statement and under what circumstances did he do so?” Thuranira queried in his petition.
Thuranira called on the Senate to probe the circumstances under which the said minority leader withdrew the aforementioned statement.
He further asked the Senate to investigate signatories to the aforesaid accounts in the aforesaid financial year up to date.
The activist also called on the Senate to probe the funds deposited and withdrawn from the aforesaid Imprest Account(s) on each month of the aforesaid financial year up to date and people paid the imprest.
Thuranira demanded the Senate find out if the drawing from the said Imprest Account was authorized by the Office of the Controller of Budget.
