Nyamira County assembly Speaker Joash Nyamoko has termed media reports linking the assembly to alleged misappropriation of Sh63 million as ‘irresponsible and careless’.
On Friday, a local newspaper reported that the assembly had used the aforementioned amount on tea and snacks.
However, the office of the Controller of Budget issued a clarification on Saturday insisting that the amount for the financial year 2015/16 was a consolidated figure for both the assembly (Sh14.04m) and the executive (Sh49m).
“The Daily Nation's article on Friday that the assembly used Sh63 million on snacks and tea was irresponsible and careless. The reporter did not establish facts from either the County Assembly or from the County Budget Coordinator,” Nyamoko said.
“The County Assembly spent Shs14.04m on Board meetings, committees, conferences, seminars and catering services but not on the and snacks as reported,” he added.
He urged reporters to establish facts before going on air adding that the information amounted to defamation.
“Reporters should carry out thorough research before reporting. For instance the reporter says we have 30 MCAs yet the assembly has 33 MCAs. Such misreporting can amount to defamation,” he said.