Garissa Governor Ali Korane with county officials. He wants inherited debt audited afresh. [Photo/facebook.com]
Garissa County government has ordered a fresh audit of a huge debt amounting to Sh4.3 billion which is owed to contractors and other service providers.
Garissa governor Ali Korane said the debt was inherited from the previous government and is owed to contractors and other service providers.
Addressing the press in his office on Tuesday, Mr. Korane said the county government does not have much money to pay off the debt.
The governor who asked for fresh audit said he had doubt on the kind of projects or services rendered by the previous administration.
Mr. Korane said the audit team should provide proof of whatever services rendered, projects implemented fully and their quality.
“The only way to dispose of this matter is to carry out a fresh audit that I believe will give a clear picture of the debt owed. I have seen the report. We don’t have much money and I don’t see us paying this amount in the near future.”
“For now I cannot comment on the existence of projects whether they are of quality and have been completed, all will be known by this fresh audit,” he added.
The debt was contained in a report presented to governor Korane by the assumption of office committee.
According to the assumption of the official report, Garissa county government inherited about Sh4.3 billion debt from previous administration is a debt owed to contractors and other service providers.
The Department of Public Service has a debt of Sh17.1 million, Trade has Sh141.4 million while Health has Sh78.3 million.
Other departments having huge debts include Lands with Sh198.5 million, Environment Sh352.7 million, Education Sh224 million, Youth and Sports Sh60.1 million, Water Sh773.9 million and Finance Sh973.7 million.
The County Affairs department has a debt of about Sh100.5 million, Culture has a burden of Sh10.8 million, Livestock has Sh67.1 million debt while the Agriculture department’s liability stands at Sh29.1 million.