Missing Sh21 Billion Places Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on the Spot

An audit report by KPMG has put former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on the spot over missing Sh21 billion.

The report indicates that Sh21.89 billion was not accounted for in the handover report by Kidero when current Governor Mike Sonko was assuming office in August last year.

“More than Sh21.89 billion in payments was not recorded so we cannot know who was paid, and 7,346 manual revenue collection receipt booklets were deleted from the digital system,” KPMG Associate Director in charge of Forensics Mark Bunyi said.

The scrutiny, which was done on revenue, debts, cash, banking and assets further found that the handover report under-stated the county hall's debts by more than Sh1.5 billion.

“We found Sh1.5 billion more pending bills when we checked individual departments, which was different from what was in the handover report. This means the liability is more,” head of Risk Consulting Brian De Souza said.

It also established that Kidero's administration irregularly opened 32 accounts in commercial banks, contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.

Further, KPMG found that Sh22.8 billion in revenue was not remitted, including Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and pension deductions.

Speaking after KPMG head of Advisory in East Africa, Gerald Kasimu and De Souza briefed him on the findings of the audit, Governor Sonko said action will be taken against those who looted county coffers. “We shall get to the bottom of this matter. All the culprits will be brought to book,” he said.