This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
On August 6, 2020, the Senate Ad Hoc committee on COVID-19 took a crucial step in addressing concerns over the misuse of COVID-19 funds by county governments. The committee wrote to Auditor General Nancy Gathungu and Controller of Budget Margret Nyakang'o, requesting special audits on the utilization of these funds.
The committee's move comes after it noted that some counties had diverted COVID-19 funds to areas unrelated to the pandemic. There were also concerns of misappropriation of funds in some cases.
The Auditor General was tasked with conducting a special audit in all 47 counties, covering the period from March 13, 2020, when the first case was reported in the country, to July 31, 2020. The audit aimed to review and establish whether county governments had approved work plans, procurement plans, and training plans specific to COVID-19 activities and if the funds were spent in accordance with approved plans.
The Auditor General was also required to check on irregularities involving the misuse of public funds and identify related weaknesses in management controls that may imperil the integrity of the organization and the effective implementation of budgetary and other policy decisions.
The Controller of Budget was tasked with conducting a special budget review implementation report on the utilization of funds by county governments towards COVID-19 interventions. The report was expected to be filed by August 21, 2020.
The funds in question amount to Sh5 billion conditional grants disbursed by the national government to counties in June, with an aim of boosting the level of readiness in county health facilities.
