Devolution Committee chaired by Homa Bay County Senator, Hon. Moses Kajwang will launch an inquiry on all the 47 counties to establish how much they have spent on legal representation.
The committee made the resolution after Nairobi acting Governor, Hon. Anne Kananu failed to appear before the committee to shed light on how the county, allegedly paid Ksh 790 million to various law firms.
“We have noted that Counties are paying billions to outsource legal representation at the expense of development. Legal fees continue to spiral whilst counties should draw services from their internal lawyers, “said Kajwang at the Senate chambers.
The sitting follows a statement sought by Nairobi Nominated Senator, Hon.Millicent Omanga to the committee, to inquire the alleged illegal payment of legal fees to out-sourced law firms by the Nairobi County Government.
The Senator sought to know reasons for paying law firms Ksh795.9million out of the county’s allocation of Ksh 2.5 billion meant for clearance of all pending billions in financial year 2018/2019.
She further wanted documentary evidence availed by the law firms to support payments made by the county and a progress report made by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on investigations on the legal fees allegedly paid to lawyers for services for financial year 2018/2019.
The Committee had directed the Governor to furnish them with documents detailing a breakdown of legal payments made in financial years 2018 to 2021, name of law firms paid, date, service rendered and total amount paid to the firms.
The Governor however failed to appear before the committee nor did she send the documents as requested.Senator Kajwang noted that since this was the first invitation for the Governor to appear before the committee, he directed that she appears next week in Parliament.
Members of the committee present included Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo- Marakwet) Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) Abdul Haji (Garissa) and Nominated Senators Rose Nyamunga and Isaac Ngugi.
