Olekina wants governors held personally liable for financial mismanagement
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has announced plans to push for amendments to the County Governments Act to make governors personally accountable for financial mismanagement and mounting pending bills in counties. In a post on his X account on Monday, August 24, 2026, Olekina argued that Section 133 of the County Governments Act had become a […]
Senator Ledama Olekina of Narok is seeking to amend the County Governments Act to hold governors personally responsible for financial mismanagement and outstanding debts in their respective counties. In a recent post on his X account, Olekina argued that Section 133 of the act currently provides a legal shield for governors, allowing them to avoid personal accountability for poor financial management, unpaid suppliers and accumulating county debts.
He cited the Constitution's Article 179(4), which designates the governor as the chief executive of the county, and Article 226(5), which outlines personal liability for unauthorised expenditure and failure to comply with financial management laws. Olekina contends that these provisions have been misused, enabling poor financial practices to persist without personal consequences for governors.
He insists that the notion of "good faith" needs to be redefined, and that every governor must assume clear fiduciary responsibility as the chief executive of their county. Olekina's amendment aims to establish clearer fiduciary obligations for governors, ensuring they cannot use legal loopholes to evade accountability. His proposal is particularly timely as many counties grapple with mounting pending bills and unpaid suppliers.
Olekina believes that a chief executive who fails to manage officers, prioritize legitimate debts and enforce financial discipline should not be able to hide behind legal technicalities. He stated his intention to introduce this amendment in Parliament, emphasizing that Kenyans deserve governors who answer for their financial decisions.
This follows Olekina's earlier criticism of the Office of the Controller of Budget over county spending, questioning the expenditure of Ksh13.17 billion on travel during the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year and the validity of various withdrawals. He argued that oversight bodies must not only record expenditure but also ensure public funds are spent lawfully.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
