NAIROBI, Kenya – Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika is under pressure after senators called for an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigation into her administration over billions of shillings tied to stalled projects, irregular payments and weak financial controls.
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday flagged Sh7.8 billion worth of incomplete projects, including a Sh1 million market toilet that has remained unfinished since 2019.
“What happened to this toilet, just worth Sh1 million, that has stalled for three years?” PAC chair Moses Kajwang asked.
The committee also raised concerns about Early Childhood Development (ECD) toilets left incomplete, questioning whether pupils were being forced to relieve themselves in bushes.
Governor Kihika said the facilities were meant to ease pressure on existing toilets shared by younger and older learners, but offered no clear explanation for the delays.
The PAC further accused her administration of illegally hiring private law firms without approval from the county attorney.
The Auditor-General flagged Sh22 million paid to the firms without contracts or supporting documents.
“They have a county attorney, but they went ahead illegally to hire private law firms. They are yet to provide us with documents,” the auditor’s office noted.
Kihika shifted responsibility, saying: “Where is the attorney to answer this? I don’t understand why he isn’t here.”
The committee also found Nakuru County is currently operating without four critical structures: a County Public Service Board, an Audit Committee, a Chief Officer of Finance, and a qualified Head of Accounting Services.
“How do you expect to achieve your goals in the absence of these key structures?” Senator Kajwang pressed.
Kihika admitted the county had gaps caused by retirements and lengthy recruitment processes, but insisted names of new appointees had already been forwarded to the assembly for vetting.
Separately, a Nakuru resident, Anthony Kipyegon, petitioned the EACC on September 2 to investigate alleged payroll fraud, stalled projects, revenue leakages and billions in pending bills flagged in recent Auditor-General and Controller of Budget reports.
“These are not minor administrative lapses but potential economic crimes and misappropriation of public funds,” Kipyegon said in his letter.
The PAC has indicated it will also forward its findings to the EACC for further action.
