Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, famously known as 'Baba Yao' found himself on the hot seat on Thursday when he appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to explain the 'strange' 2018/2019 budget lines and expenditures.
When asked how the figures and the 'projects' were carried out, the governor said they were also new to him and blamed it on misuse of the national government template.
"What I have seen is also new to me. I think it is a misuse of the National Government template because nobody could have assumed that we have such figures in our county. Because we don't have a budget for those things and therefore there is no expense at all," Waititu responded.
On further questioning, the governor shifted the blame to political opponents who he accused of seeking to tarnish his name for political gains ahead of 2022.
This 'defence' was however dismissed by the Committee Chair Senator Moses Kajwang' who indicated that 2022 politics was a non-issue and hit out at the county boss for not answering the main questions about the budget.
Waititu also told the Senate Committee that the report might have been doctored in order to 'corner' him during the questioning.
"I want to believe that this report was not interfered with by anybody to put in those things so that when I come here I will be cornered the way you’re cornering me," said the governor.
The committee dismissed the claim as the Auditor General, who was present in the meeting, confirmed that the report was true as received from Kiambu County Government.
Among the suspicious items, the governor was being questioned are about Sh500 million for the peace process in South Sudan, over Sh900 million for State House functions and Sh180 million for emoluments for retired presidents.
You can watch the video here.