The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, met Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his County Executive to assess implementation of House resolutions arising from previous Auditor-General reports on county funds.

The audit findings had earlier been canvassed by the Committee, whose report was subsequently tabled and adopted by the Senate. The House then directed Kajiado County to implement specific recommendations, prompting this follow-up meeting.

Among the issues revisited was KSh76.8 million spent through the Emergency Fund, with members questioning whether projects such as rehabilitation of boreholes properly met the threshold of an emergency.

“The question is not whether water is important. It is whether rehabilitation of a borehole qualifies as an emergency under the law and whether the expenditure was properly documented and justified as such,” said Sen. Mwaruma.

The Committee also questioned expenditure on Olgulului Primary School, noting that primary education is a National Government function. Members further heard that approval had been granted for renovation of a dormitory, yet the resulting works involved construction or rehabilitation of classrooms, raising questions over compliance with the approved scope.

Sen. Peris Tobiko acknowledged Kajiado’s acute water challenges but said emergency spending must remain within the law.

“Kajiado is a dry county and a failed borehole can immediately affect communities and livestock. But even where an intervention is urgent, the county must demonstrate that it meets the legal test of an emergency and account for every shilling,” said Sen. Tobiko.

Governor Lenku acknowledged weaknesses in documentation and discrepancies in project records.

“Where there were administrative or documentation failures, we will take responsibility, correct the records and take action against officers where necessary. We will also provide the Committee with the outstanding evidence within the timelines given,” said Governor Lenku.

The Committee directed the county to submit the outstanding records and explanations for verification before unresolved recommendations are closed.