L-R: Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Senator Joyce Korir,Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, Migori Governor Dr Ochillo Ayacko and his Deputy Dr Joseph Mahiri during the Senate Finance committee visit to the county state house. Photo KTMN.
Migori County finds itself at the center of a political storm following a shocking surge in pending bills, raising serious concerns about financial mismanagement, ghost projects, and potential corruption. What began as a routine Senate oversight visit quickly escalated into political drama, with Senators walking out of a press briefing in protest against Governor Dr. Ochilo Ayacko’s handling of the county’s finances.
The Alarming Surge in Pending Bills
Senators were left baffled after reviewing Migori’s pending bills, which have skyrocketed from a modest Ksh 3.9 million in 2014/2015 to an eye-watering Ksh 1.765 billion in 2023/2024. This sharp increase has raised red flags about the county’s financial practices, with a particularly inexplicable rise in 2019/2020, when pending bills surged to Ksh 1.7 billion.
Breakdown of Pending Bills Over the Years:
- 2014/15 – Ksh 3.9 million
- 2015/16 – Nil
- 2016/17 – Ksh 5.8 million
- 2017/18 – Ksh 147,000
- 2018/19 – Ksh 133,000
- 2019/20 – Ksh 1.7 billion (unexplained spike)
- 2020/21 – Ksh 37 million
- 2021/22 – Ksh 400 million
- 2022/23 – Ksh 31 million
- 2023/24 – Ksh 1.765 billion
With the county’s total annual budget standing at Ksh 11 billion, and Ksh 3.6 billion allocated to salaries, Senators have raised crucial questions about how the remaining funds could have resulted in such a massive accumulation of debt.
Allegations of Ghost Projects and Missing Funds
Senator Richard Onyonka of Kisii led the charge in demanding accountability, questioning how the county could justify such sharp increases in pending bills.
North Kadem MCA Olima Obonyo was more direct, accusing the county government of paying for “ghost projects” and inflating bills.
“This is daylight robbery. These figures don’t add up, and we need answers,” Obonyo declared, referring to Ksh 73 million in pending bills that the Environmental Department had disowned.
In a further escalation, West Kanyamkago MCA Peter Mijungu alleged that county leaders who raised concerns were facing intimidation, harassment, and even physical attacks by hired goons.
Senate Oversight Visit Turns Chaotic
Tensions reached a boiling point during a charged press briefing when Senate Finance Chair Dr. Boni Khalwale barred Governor Ayacko from accompanying Senators on an oversight visit to county offices.
An infuriated Governor Ayacko lashed out at the Senators, accusing them of overstepping their mandate. “It is anomalous for senators to visit my offices without my presence. I must be there in person. I was not informed of any intentions to visit projects,” Ayacko stated.
In a dramatic twist, Senators walked out of the briefing, leaving Governor Ayacko alone with the journalists. The Governor later dismissed the oversight visit as a political witch-hunt, arguing that the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC), rather than the Finance Committee, should be the body reviewing financial records.
The 14-Day Ultimatum
Despite the tensions, Senators and county officials later convened in a closed-door meeting at Vannah Hotel, where they issued a 14-day deadline for the county to address the following concerns:
- Explain the discrepancies in pending bills
- Justify the payment process for past expenditures
- Address suspicions of ghost projects, voided transactions, and missing records
As the deadline approaches, the pressure mounts on Migori County to provide clarity and restore public confidence in its financial practices. The political drama surrounding this issue is far from over, and all eyes are on the administration’s next steps.
About the Author
