The County Government of Nyamira through the Ministry of Youths and Sports spent Sh0.5M in a single day to train chiefs and their assistants on failed Bob ni Swag Programme, evidence in PAC committee report indicates.
The programme meant to empower youths across the county in by supporting social-economic activities would later collapse following embezzlement of millions of shillings allocated to the ministry.
According to the report, 165 provincial administrators were trained in the county headquarters on how to recruit youths to the programme.
“The committee has annexed documents showing how 165 chiefs and their assistants were ferried to Nyamira for a training exercise which was the beginning of 'Bob ni Swag' collapse. They were paid Sh1,500 each besides getting refreshments and expensive lunch,” says the report.
The report faulted use of provincial administration saying it contributed ‘fully’ to crumbling of a well-intended project given its past reputation.
“The ministry did not seek any expertise advice and used provincial administration which had a bad reputation during KANU’ days. Many youths gave 'Bob Ni Swag' a wide berth given their bad attitude towards the provincial administration,” adds the report.
The report failed to garner required support in the assembly for adoption in what chairperson Ezra Mochiemo termed as ‘sabotage’ by the county executive under the leadership of Governor John Nyagarama.
It had also recommended prosecution of six senior county government officials over negligence of duty and grand corruption in their dockets.
Photo: Nyamira Assembly Public Accounts Committee Chair Ezra Mochiemo at a past event. His PAC report revealed spending of Sh0.5M by ministry of youths to accommodate provincial administrators in a single sitting. AMakori/Hivisasa.com