Homa Bay has Sh466.7 million unpaid bills, no explanations given - Ouko

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti and Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata purchase Airtel lines in Homa Bay town, November 8, 2017.

Homa Bay has not paid bills amounting to more than Sh466.7 million for the financial year that ended on July 30, 2016.
Among those the county owes are contractors and suppliers, Auditor General Edward Ouko's says in his report for the 2015/16 financial year.
The water department owes Sh187,006,192 for the construction of facilities and civil works, the transport docket Sh86,436,197, trade and housing Sh59,233,095 and health Sh41,352,335.
Other pending amounts are Sh38,534,216 for the agriculture department, Sh26,274,124 for ICT, Sh9,089,964 by executives, Sh8,082,330 for the public service board, Sh5 million by the finance department, Sh4,338,234 for the tourism department and Sh1,399,192 for lands and housing.
The lands amount was for the fencing of the county commissioner's compound, the report states.
The report further reveals that the department of finance and economic planning had an allocation of Sh7,953,200 for development . But it spent Sh183,030,172, bringing the unplanned expenditure figure to Sh175,076,972.
The education department was allocated Sh115,223,536 for development but paid out ShSh46,843,600, leading to under expenditure of Sh68,379,936.
Education, energy and tourism departments used less than 55 per cent of development funds but no explanation was given, Ouko says.
"The management has not provided plausible explanations for the significant under-expenditure."
Ouko further questions the procurement of two Ford Ranger double cabin vehicles at Sh9,150,600 - he said they could not confirm the transaction as statements are distorted and do not include vehicles.
The auditor also raised questions about installation of solar flood lights,construction of two bio toilets at Sh5,674,005 and renovation of the Homa Bay slaughter house at Sh8,200,000.
In the 2014-15 Homa Bay county audit, the Auditor General cited numerous instances where the law was broken, concluding that the accuracy of spending in the financial statements could not be ascertained.
Ouko said the government and assembly flouted the law leading to the possible loss of more than Sh300 million.
Cyprian Awiti has been leading the county since the 2013 general election.