Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has accused the current county administration under Governor Kenneth Lusaka of failing to account for KSh600 million allegedly set aside for bursaries and scholarships during the 2022/2023 financial year.
Speaking to the press in Bungoma Town on Thursday, February 6, Wangamati claimed that by the time he exited office in 2022, his administration had allocated the funds to support more than 30,000 learners from vulnerable backgrounds across the county.
Wangamati further alleged that after Governor Lusaka assumed office, the county government discontinued the scholarship programme, reporting that Lusaka and his administration said that the education kitty was unconstitutional.
“The biggest problem facing the people of Bungoma today is how to help children from poor backgrounds access quality education because the scholarship program was scrapped,” Wangamati said.
He added, “Instead of addressing these fundamental issues, leaders are busy focusing on matters that are not priorities for the people.”
The former governor was addressing journalists following the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) audit query where he defended audit queries linking the Bungoma County Government to an alleged expenditure of KSh3.6 million for the purchase of a Christmas tree during his tenure.
He challenged the current administration to publicly explain what happened to the Sh600 million bursary allocations, saying education support had been a cornerstone of his leadership.
“When I see people talking about issues which in my view are not important and forgetting the real struggles of our people, it is very worrying,” he added.
Wangamati also raised concerns over what he termed the collapse of key public services in Bungoma County, particularly the health sector.
He claimed county hospitals are grappling with drug shortages, a situation he said was different during his tenure.
“People from across Bungoma call me daily complaining about dilapidated roads and lack of drugs in hospitals,” he said. “Even ECDE teachers who are on strike came to see me, yet I am no longer the governor.”
ECDE teachers have camped outside the governor’s office for over a week, demanding solutions to delayed salaries, promotions and gratuity payments.
Christmas tree audit queries
Addressing the Senate audit queries, Wangamati explained that the controversial KSh3.6 million imprest was unrelated to the county executive and had been misrepresented.
He said the money was meant to facilitate a benchmarking trip by members of the Bungoma County Assembly to Mbale, Uganda, in September 2019.
“Listening carefully to the Senate proceedings, it was clear that the County Attorney was ready to explain the issue, but unfortunately, the committee chair Senator Kajwang’, did not allow him sufficient time,” Wangamati said.
He explained that the imprest was issued and cashed by the then deputy clerk of the County Assembly, Francis Tome and paid to MCAs who were members of the Public Service Management Committee that undertook the trip.
“That committee was chaired by former Kabuyefwe/Naitiri MCA Joan Lutakai. Among the beneficiaries were the current Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa and the Deputy Speaker, who were committee members at the time,” he said.
Wangamati insisted he had no direct involvement in the disbursement of the funds and termed attempts to link him to the payment as malicious and politically motivated.
“It is the responsibility of the County Assembly or the County Government of Bungoma to demand accountability from Francis Tome,” he said.
He added, “Anyone trying to drag the executive into that imprest issue is engaging in propaganda.”
He also questioned the logic of claims that the money was intended for a Christmas tree.
“Even if it were for a Christmas tree, for God’s sake, can you buy a Christmas tree in September for an event in December? It doesn’t make sense at all,” he said.
The former governor took a swipe at Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, accusing him of failing in his oversight role.
“Oversight is the duty of both the County Assembly and the Senator. The imprest issue is minor and should have been handled institutionally,” Wangamati stated.
By Tony Wafula
