Kisii Governor Simba Arati has been in the public limelight for weeding out ghost workers and yet he still spent an inordinately high sum paying salaries.

The Act published in 2012 requires that every public entity allocates a minimum of 30 percent of its budget to development. It also hinders recurrent expenditure to exceed 70 percent of the budget.

Shockingly since assuming office on 25 August 2022 Mr. Arati made 70 requests to the Exchequer and utilized 60 of those requests to pay salaries and settle operations and maintenance costs. A big chunk of this money went to offset travel allowances, hospitality expenses, and training seminars.

In essence, Governor Arati requested KES 3.3 billion during his tenure and only spent a paltry 35.5 million on development.

UDA Party’s Susan Kihika did not fair any better.

Others on the long list of shame are Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Julius Malomba (Kitui), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. (Makueni), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and Kimani Wamatangi.

The issue of misuse of public funds by governors is crosscutting the political divide.