Embu County Governor Cecily Mbarire has come under scrutiny after approving the diversion of KSh10 million originally allocated for the construction of an industrial park to fund a boda boda empowerment event.
According to an audit report, the funds were redirected to finance a boda boda summit aimed at providing financial support to motorcycle taxi operators in the county. The event was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Appearing before the Senate, Governor Mbarire admitted authorising the expenditure, acknowledging that the funds were not used for their intended purpose.
“We had an event that we were calling a Boda Boda Summit where we were launching boda boda Saccos, and we didn’t have the money. Yet we had already promised the riders that we were going to give their Saccos some money, and so we used the money to fund the event,” Mbarire told senators.
However, the governor was unable to provide a clear breakdown or detailed explanation of how the KSh10 million was utilised during the event, raising further concerns among lawmakers.
The revelation comes just a day after a separate report exposed the use of KSh5 million in public funds for a housewarming party in Vihiga County, expenditure that was approved by Governor Wilberforce Otichilo.
Both cases have intensified scrutiny over the use of public funds by county governments and renewed calls for stricter accountability and oversight.
