Were millions of Shillings of funds for a Covid-19 public ‘sensitization’ campaign in Bungoma County misappropriated?

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) received a complaint that officials of the County Government of Bungoma misappropriated KSh11 Million borrowed from the Bungoma County Referral Hospital that was meant to facilitate public awareness campaign on Covid-19 Sensitization.

KSh50 million from the National Treasury

The EACC’s investigation established that on 17th February, 2020, the County sought funds (KSh50 million) from the National Treasury to initiate measures to address the Covid-19 emergency.

On 14th April, 2020, KSh50 million from the National Treasury was duly disbursed to the County to address the looming Covid 19 emergency.

In the intervening period, the CEC for Public Service Management and Administration approved a budget of KSh6,986,000 for Covid campaign from the Director, Special Programmes. The CEC of Finance approved for the funds to be transferred from the hospital’s Revenue Collection Account to conduct the Covid campaign.

County Officers KSh776,223 each

The funds were then released form the Hospital’s Account to nine County staff members attached to different departments at the County. Each of the nine officers received KSh776,223 on 18th March, 2020 after making imprest applications and made surrender at different periods thereafter.

The funds were then utilized by the imprest holders in procurement of goods and services for the Covid campaign, paying of MCA’s while some funds were not properly accounted for.

KSh11,986,000 utilized not in hospital budget

The EACC investigation established that the CEC Finance approved transfer of funds from the hospital which had been set aside for the hospital’s budgeted use. She never identified the vote from which funds were to be reallocated from before she approved expenditure/reallocation. In addition, the reallocation/transfer was beyond what was allowed under section 154 of PFMA.

Investigations established that the imprest holders procured goods by themselves without involving the department of supply chain. The Chief Officer, Health, the Medical Superintendent, an Accountant and the Administrative Officer of the hospital jointly authorized the utilization of a total sum of KSh11,986,000 for an activity that was not within the hospital’s budget.

Mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds.

The Chief Officer, Health issued instructions to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital that led to irregular withdrawal of funds from the hospital’s account without seeking requisite approvals from the Chief Officer, Finance and Economic Planning or CEC, Finance. This led to mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds.

The Medical Superintendent and the Accountant at the hospital approved or allowed incomplete imprests to nine imprest holders for activities which were not within budgeted activities of the hospital and to personnel not employed within the hospital.

The Health Administrative Officer and the Accountant unlawfully committed funds of the hospital by signing imprest applications without ensuring that there was a vote available for the activity.

The use of the emergency fund and the hospital’s fund was not properly managed and the funds utilized from the hospital were misappropriated.

On 3rd June, 2024, a report was compiled and forwarded to the DPP with recommendations to charge the suspects with six counts of misappropriation of public funds contrary to section 198 (1) (b) as read with section 199 of the Public Finance Management Act 2012.

The DPP’s response is awaited.

Primary source, Kenya Gazette