NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has stepped in to defend Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o amid rising tensions with the Council of Governors (CoG) over alleged corruption in county governments.
The standoff stems from Nyakang’o’s report that flagged counties for operating hundreds of bank accounts—suspected conduits for theft of public funds—and highlighted zero spending on development in several devolved units.
The report has drawn sharp criticism from governors, who dismissed it as “sensational” and misleading.
Speaking in Mwingi, Kitui County on Friday, EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi criticized the governors’ response, urging them to embrace accountability instead of undermining oversight institutions.
“The commission urges governors to recognize theft of public funds as an existential threat to devolution and implement accountability measures as advised by oversight bodies,” said Ngumbi.
He emphasized that the EACC’s Corruption Risk Assessment reports, which include reform recommendations for 28 counties, remain largely unimplemented.
Ngumbi underscored that the operation of multiple bank accounts is a telltale sign of financial mismanagement.
“The maintenance of such a huge number of accounts signals a betrayal of public trust, even as governors call for increased allocations,” he said.
The Controller of Budget’s report revealed staggering findings, including some counties operating over 300 bank accounts, a move seen as an attempt to conceal irregularities.
Additionally, ten counties—including Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, and Baringo—were flagged for failing to spend a single shilling on development during the period under review.
Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, however, pushed back against the allegations, blaming delayed disbursements from the National Treasury.
“You cannot spend what you do not have,” Abdullahi said, accusing Nyakang’o of “scandalizing counties” and fostering unnecessary public outrage.
Nyakang’o defended her findings, asserting that the data in her report was verified and sourced directly from counties and the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS).
“We report factual figures as confirmed by the counties… the numbers are accurate,” she said during an interview on Citizen TV.
The standoff stems from Nyakang’o’s report that flagged counties for operating hundreds of bank accounts—suspected conduits for theft of public funds—and highlighted zero spending on development in several devolved units.
The report has drawn sharp criticism from governors, who dismissed it as “sensational” and misleading.
Speaking in Mwingi, Kitui County on Friday, EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi criticized the governors’ response, urging them to embrace accountability instead of undermining oversight institutions.
“The commission urges governors to recognize theft of public funds as an existential threat to devolution and implement accountability measures as advised by oversight bodies,” said Ngumbi.
He emphasized that the EACC’s Corruption Risk Assessment reports, which include reform recommendations for 28 counties, remain largely unimplemented.
Ngumbi underscored that the operation of multiple bank accounts is a telltale sign of financial mismanagement.
“The maintenance of such a huge number of accounts signals a betrayal of public trust, even as governors call for increased allocations,” he said.
The Controller of Budget’s report revealed staggering findings, including some counties operating over 300 bank accounts, a move seen as an attempt to conceal irregularities.
Additionally, ten counties—including Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, and Baringo—were flagged for failing to spend a single shilling on development during the period under review.
Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, however, pushed back against the allegations, blaming delayed disbursements from the National Treasury.
“You cannot spend what you do not have,” Abdullahi said, accusing Nyakang’o of “scandalizing counties” and fostering unnecessary public outrage.
Nyakang’o defended her findings, asserting that the data in her report was verified and sourced directly from counties and the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS).
“We report factual figures as confirmed by the counties… the numbers are accurate,” she said during an interview on Citizen TV.
