Residents of Kisumu now want MCAs to be held accountable for misuse and failure to account for the ward maintenance fund.
Out of Sh92.7 million disbursed for monthly ward office maintenance MCAs cannot account for Sh55.6 million.
Questions are also being raised over Sh37.1 million the 35 MCAs claim to account for since many did not use the money for what it was intended for.
The ward representatives have received a total disbursement Sh2.65 million each from November 2013 to April 2015 with every MCA receiving Sh150, 000 every month.
In a warning letter dated May 6, the acting clerk to the assembly Owen Ojuok warned the MCAs to comply with the conditions put on how to spend the funds.
Kisumu residents’ voice association (KICIREVO) chairman, Audi Ogada said it was high time the long arm of the law caught up with MCAs who are mismanaging funds.
Ogada urged that the county finance officer to stop further disbursement of the funds until all MCAs account for the money they had received earlier.
“We cannot be crucifying the presidency and the National Assembly, yet the rot of corruption is embedded in the County Assemblies,” said Ogada.
He said they will petition all the relevant institutions to probe the matter.
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), Nyanza Chairperson Hesbone Omollo said ward offices fund have been grossly abused in Kisumu and I think time has come for them to mend their ways or risk law suits.
Omollo said it was wrong for some MCAs to be signatories to the accounts contrary to the Public Finance Management (PFM) regulations and doctrine of separation of powers.
“I have previously advised that they be trained on what should be done, because the public is clearly getting a raw deal on this,” said Omollo.