Siaya County’s political temperature has shot through the roof after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) unanimously moved to censure Acting Finance CEC George Nyin’giro, accusing him of financial chaos, procedural blunders, and outright neglect of legal obligations.
The fiery motion tabled in the Assembly has now placed Nyin’giro at the centre of what insiders are calling “Siaya’s biggest finance embarrassment in years,” with MCAs warning that the county’s fiscal health is “on the brink” unless urgent corrective measures are taken.
At the heart of the storm is Nyin’giro’s alleged failure to remit mandatory staff deductions — including SHIF, NSSF, LAPTRUST/LAPFUND, and workers’ personal loan repayments.
MCAs say the arrears have exposed county staff to penalties, blocked loan access, and placed Siaya on a dangerous collision course with statutory bodies.
“This is not mere oversight — it is negligence of the highest order,” a furious MCA said during debate.
The Assembly also took issue with the Acting CEC’s submission of what they termed a faulty and incomplete Finance Bill, accusing him of undermining the County Assembly’s constitutional mandate to interrogate and pass the document.
Instead of the structured, legally compliant bill required under the Public Finance Management Act, Nyin’giro allegedly forwarded a hollow proposal lacking substance and clarity, effectively stalling legislative processes.
MCAs warned that the blunder could cripple revenue-raising measures for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
Despite the Assembly approving funds for automating revenue collection, the Acting CEC has reportedly dragged his feet — a move MCAs say has weakened fiscal discipline and allowed leakages to thrive.
The legislators lamented that Siaya continues to rely on outdated, opaque systems, making it difficult to track payments, curb fraud, or improve revenue mobilisation.
Another painful sore point is the lack of a Project Management Policy, which MCAs argue has opened the door to accountability gaps in payments to project committees.
They claim the Acting CEC has not reconciled payments relating to community projects — leaving committee members confused and project funds vulnerable to misuse.
In a rare show of bipartisan firmness, the Assembly gave Governor James Orengo 30 days to act on the concerns.
Should he fail to respond or take corrective measures, MCAs threaten to escalate their actions, a move that could plunge the county’s finance docket into a deeper leadership crisis.
Political observers say the pressure is not only on Nyin’giro but also on Orengo’s administration, which must now demonstrate control and accountability as public confidence wavers.
The censure comes on the back of persistent complaints over Siaya’s financial governance:
Previous audits flagged unremitted deductions running into millions, raising questions about cash handling within the county.
The County Public Accounts Committee recently rebuked the Finance Department for voided IFMIS transactions and payments processed outside formal payroll channels.
The Assembly is also probing the controversial sacking of 259 alleged “ghost workers” in the health department, adding to concerns about chaotic payroll management.
The gloves are off in Siaya.
What started as routine scrutiny has morphed into a full-scale political showdown pitting MCAs against the county’s finance leadership. With statutory arrears piling, systems stalling, and political patience wearing thin, the next 30 days will be crucial for Governor Orengo and his embattled Finance CEC.
If corrective action doesn’t come swiftly, Siaya could be staring at a deepening governance crisis — one that MCAs appear more than ready to expose.
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