Embu: The County Assembly of Embu has called upon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate an irregular payment of Sh3 million made to a company after its contract period had expired.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Public Accounts Committee, in its examination of the Auditor General's report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, found that the County Government made an illegal payment to Jambo Pay Company. This payment was for an extension of the revenue collection and management automation system, despite the contract having expired on April 6, 2023.

In a motion moved by Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh, the Assembly urged the investigative bodies to take appropriate legal action against the officers involved if they are found culpable of breaching public procurement laws. Swaleh, who is also the MCA for Kirimari Ward, highlighted that the County Government issued two Local Purchase Orders to the company without formal recommendation by the tender evaluation committee, despite the contract period having ended.

The report indicated that the County Executive was in violation of the law regarding contractual obligations after a procurement process is completed. Deputy Speaker Swaleh criticized the County Executive for consistently failing to submit necessary documents to the Auditor General's office, leading to difficulties in addressing audit queries in the assembly.

He further warned that the assembly should not be used as a substitute for an audit firm due to the executive's failure to provide timely expenditure reports to the Auditor General. The report called on the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Finance and Economic Planning to resolve all prior year's audit issues and submit proof of resolution to the assembly within 30 days.