The county could not provide documents to support expenditures in the billions of shillings at City Hall during Sonko’s tenure.
Projects worth Sh2.92 billion stalled in one year, denying residents much-needed development.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko hired at least 33 police officers to guard him during 22-day trip to Mombasa in 2018, a report by the Auditor General has revealed.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu also questioned as much as Sh20 billion allegedly not properly accounted for during the 2018-19 financial year.
The former governor paid a high number of guards, Sh4 million public money without authorization, the 2018-19 report reads.
The law allows governors round-the-clock protection by a maximum of five armed police officers.
The governor’s office could not provide evidence to justify the expenditure on officers who are paid salaries and allowances by their employer, the National Police Service Commission.
The Auditor General’s report said Sonko’s administration could have caused loss of public money, questioning as much as Sh20 billion for the year under review.
The report cites financial blunders during Sonko’s second year at City Hall, exposing billions of shillings of payments made contrary to the law.
According to the report, the former county boss hired 33 police officers to provide round-the-clock security for him during the 2018 Coast trip.
“No documents were availed in support of the payment except an unsigned schedule. In addition, the purpose of the journey and authorization for use of 33 police officers was not explained,” the report read.
During his tenure, Sonko kept a large team of formal and non-formal security officers, besides hangers-on who brandished big guns and other weapons as he was chauffeured either into the city or across the country.
The report also shows taxpayers could have lost slightly over a billion shillings through questionable payments to lawyers.
The Sonko administration paid Sh595.07 million for unjustified legal fees during the chaotic 2018-19 financial year, allegedly to law firms that provided county legal services.
The auditor concluded that the money was illegally paid by the county executive because there were no documents to support the payments.
The ex-governor’s administration was put on the spot by the withdrawal of Sh500 million whose expenditure could not be traced.
However, no supporting documents were provided to the auditors, sparking concerns the cash could have ended in private pockets.
“However, the management did not avail documents such as the nature of disputes, approval for procurement of professional services records, record of services rendered and contract agreements,” the report reads.
The report brings to the fore the financial irregularities at City Hall.
Sonko was impeached by the County Assembly in December 2020 after a two-year chaotic incumbency at City Hall.
The MCA had cited gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct as the grounds to send Sonko home.
The report says Sonko’s administration operated ‘secret’ bank accounts, which accumulated pending bills amounting to Sh70.65 billion.
The accounts also accumulated statutory deductions totaling Sh39 billion.
Meantime, projects worth Sh2.92 billion stalled in one year, denying the city residents the much needed development.
Gathungu rendered an adverse opinion, implying that the county’s financial statements were misrepresented, misstated and thus did not accurately reflect the county’s financial health.
The year under review was Sonko’s full financial year in charge of City Hall, following his election in the August 8, 2017 to succeed Evans Kidero.
Further, the report reveals that the county officials withdrew Sh206.38 million and Sh3 million from the county’s Supreme Business and Current Accounts at Equity Bank and Nairobi City County Trust Account at KCB Bank, respectively.
The cash was withdrawn for unspecified payments which, according to the report, were not supported by appropriate authority, documentation and per-numbered payment vouchers.
During the same year, the county made withdrawals amounting to Sh249.79 million from Co-Operative Bank but no supporting documents were provided.