Almost three years after leaving office, former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu finds herself under scrutiny over questionable projects during her tenure. The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds has summoned Ngilu for questioning over alleged misuse of public funds at the Kitui County Textile Centre (Kicotec), a controversial garment factory established in 2018.
Kicotec, once celebrated for securing multi-million shilling tenders from the national government to produce police uniforms and other garments, has faced significant financial difficulties. Despite generating substantial revenue, the factory has continued to receive large sums from the county budget, raising concerns about its financial management. The Kitui County Assembly repeatedly questioned why the semi-autonomous factory needed public funds despite its profits.
Senate Committee Chairman Godfrey Osotsi highlighted that the committee’s focus would be on Kicotec’s financial records for the 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22 financial years. Ngilu, alongside Kicotec’s former board of directors and top county officials, is expected to provide details on how the generated funds were managed. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers have also been invited to participate in the inquiry.
Auditor General reports have flagged numerous irregularities in Kicotec’s financial management. Issues include unauthorized payments totaling millions to casual workers without signed contracts, irregular changes to bank account signatories, and missing payment vouchers, complicating the authentication of payments.
The financial mismanagement claims have led to significant operational challenges for Kicotec, including delayed salaries and unpaid electricity bills, forcing temporary shutdowns. The current Kitui Governor, Julius Malombe, formed a task force to investigate the county’s investments, including Kicotec, which revealed that despite earning Sh614 million in revenue, only Sh440,000 remained in the bank, with unpaid salaries and bills piling up.
The task force also uncovered that some equipment, such as computerized sewing machines, had been purchased at highly inflated prices, suggesting mismanagement of public funds. Furthermore, an investigation by the County Assembly in 2018 revealed that Ngilu’s administration had engaged in an irregular agreement with Nakuru-based Trendy Technical and Vocational Centre, paying Sh30 million to train Kicotec tailors without a formal memorandum of understanding.
As the Senate committee seeks answers, the spotlight remains on the financial dealings of Kicotec and the legacy of Ngilu’s administration.
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