This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 31, 2019, Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya accused some auditors of soliciting bribes in order to dish out favours, derailing the anti-graft war in counties.
Speaking during a consultative meeting of the CoG and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Governor Oparanya said some of the agencies should be subjected to oversight as their actions have toughened the county-level fight against corruption.
"We have witnessed cases where auditors demanded bribes in order to dish out favours. We are in possession of this evidence," he said.
He called for the EACC to investigate the agencies, citing the violation of financial management procedures at both levels of government.
Governor Oparanya also criticized some private sector players, including contractors and suppliers, saying they perpetuate corruption in counties.
"To effectively fight corruption, we should look at the vice holistically," he said.
He noted that it is difficult to fight graft as influential people benefit from the vice.
"The fight against corruption is proving difficult because there are people in power who have decided to benefit from it and the existing framework. Leaders lack both the will and capacity to stop them," he said.
However, he faulted the anti-graft agency over the arrest of colleagues accused of graft, terming it humiliating.
Mr Oparanya also expressed skepticism when he received a call about the meeting from EACC chairperson Eliud Wabukala.
Mr Wabukala said he wants governors to be the first point of contact in the fight against graft in devolved units.
