Senate probes Meru County over lingering audit queries

Senate probes Meru County over lingering audit queries

Bunge Tower
Friday, 29th May 2025

The Senate Committee on County Public Investment and Special Funds has pressed Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma over unresolved audit issues affecting multiple county agencies, including water companies, municipalities, and the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).

The session, led by Committee Chair Senator Godfrey Osotsi, focused on outstanding financial irregularities identified in Auditor-General reports for fiscal years 2020/21 and 2021/22. These included long-standing queries against Meru Rural Water Company, where 15 of 17 issues remained unresolved, and Meru Water Company, where five issues were still open and another five only partially addressed.

Senator Osotsi expressed alarm at the lack of progress. “Meru does not have audited reports for its municipalities… This is a very serious matter,” he said. He also noted that previous committee recommendations on water sector concerns had gone unaddressed.

The review also covered MTRH, where 11 out of 14 audit issues remained pending, raising concerns about accountability and transparency in one of the region’s key public health institutions.

Given Governor Mutuma’s relatively short time in office, just two months, the Committee agreed to consider written responses. “We will only receive written submissions for Meru County and then adjourn,” Senator Osotsi announced, adding that a full hearing would be rescheduled.

Governor Mutuma acknowledged the findings and pledged cooperation. “We are well guided on the areas of concern and promise to give satisfactory responses to the areas you’ve flagged out,” he told the Committee.

The session underscored ongoing challenges in local government accountability, particularly in financial reporting and implementation of prior Senate oversight recommendations. The Committee has vowed to closely monitor follow-up actions once the county submits its formal responses.