Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok faced a hostile reception at the Senate Public Accounts Committee, struggling to explain the alleged misuse of public funds and missing documentation.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok was put to the sword by Senators on Friday, enduring a grueling session over the unexplained expenditure of Sh10 million that has raised red flags at the Auditor General’s office. The appearance before the powerful watchdog committee was marked by tense exchanges, as the Governor fought to defend his administration against accusations of financial impropriety.

The inquiry centered on specific flagged transactions where the audit trail had gone cold. Senators accused the county executive of "systemic negligence" and a cavalier attitude towards public resources, noting that Sh10 million could not just vanish without a trace. Barchok’s defense—citing administrative errors and delayed documentation—did little to assuage the committee, which demanded immediate accountability.

A History of Audit Queries

This is not the first time Bomet County has been in the spotlight for fiscal questions. The Senators pointed to a pattern of recurring audit queries, suggesting that the county’s financial systems are porous by design. "We are seeing a trend where public money is treated like pocket change," one Senator remarked, threatening to recommend sanctions if the missing documents were not produced within 14 days.

• The EACC Shadow: The grilling comes in the wake of previous summons by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), adding a layer of legal peril to the Governor's political woes.
• Missing Files: The core of the dispute involves payment vouchers that were allegedly not presented during the initial audit, raising suspicions of a cover-up.

The Ultimatum

The Committee has issued a strict ultimatum to the Governor to clean up his house or face the full force of the law, including possible prosecution for financial negligence. For the residents of Bomet, the spectacle in Nairobi is a worrying sign that the fruits of devolution are being eaten by the very people elected to protect them.

"Accountability is not negotiable," the Committee Chair ruled. As Barchok left the Senate chambers, it was clear that the ghost of this Sh10 million would haunt his administration for months to come.