Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki has stated he is ready to refund Tharaka Nithi money that he spent in a trip to United Kingdom last year questioned by the Auditor General.
Auditor General Edward Ouko in the 2017/2018 fiscal year report raised queries on Sh6.2 million spent by the county government to sponsor the MP, his Chuka counterpart Patrick Munene and County Women Rep Beatrice Nkatha for a trip to US and UK.
Governor Muthomi Njuki and the two legislators spent Sh3, 287,664 during the trip but the purpose of the travel was not clear from the invitation letter according to the report.
Mr Mbiuki said though they were facilitated by the county, the UK trip benefited the county residents as they got a donation of three refurbished fire engines all worth Sh132 million.
The MP insisted that he was prepared to pay back the monies just to clear his name.
“I am ready to pay back the county’s money to clear my name. I am not that poor,” Mbiuki said during launch of one of the fire engine at Chogoria town in Maara constituency.
On why he was facilitated by the county, the MP who chairs the National Assembly Committee on Environment said he was the link person between the devolved government and Bedfordshire, the donors.
On his part, Governor Njuki said the three engines had helped the county respond to emergencies such as inferno in time.
Also questioned by the auditor is how Sh1.9 million used by the county to facilitate Nkatha to attend the 62nd Commission on Status of Women (CSW) conference in New York last year benefited the county.
