Meru County On Spot Over Nonexistent Ksh4.3M Earthworm Project

The Auditor-General Edward Ouko has raised concern over Ksh4.3 million allocated by Meru County government on rearing earthworms and black flies.

According to the Auditor General, the county government was put on spot spending the millions in the 2017/2018 financial year without an assessment on the project.

In his report, Mr Ouko noted that Ksh2.5 million was given to a supplier for 1,000 eco-tosha materials for earthworms while Ksh1.8 million was used to purchase 600 plastic drums.

Ouko further noted that the plastic drums were intended to be used in the rearing of the earthworms and black flies in the 45 wards.

His report also revealed that after the delivery of the drums, they remained idle at the country stores for six months.

He was also keen to note that the Kiraitu Murungi-led government had inflatuated the price of the drums from Ksh1,000 to Ksh3,000.

Read: Vihiga MCAs Spent Sh1.2 Million On Lunch, Auditor Reveals

The auditor general mentioned: “However, no documentary evidence was [produced] for audit review to show that the materials had been delivered as at the end of audit in November 2018.

“The propriety and accountability of the Sh2.5 million, could not be confirmed,” report commented.

Speaking on the project, Meru County Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairman Paul Bagine stated that the earthworms were to be used to support poultry farming in the country.

Mr Bagine however commented that the project did not go on claiming that there was no enough money to execute it.

“We are waiting for a report from the executive to look into it. But the project did not proceed because there was no money to execute it,” he stated.

Ouko also questioned the county’s wage bill which is reported to have drastically increased by Ksh1.26 billion in one financial year.

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