KITUI COUNTY FINANCE EXECUTIVE FACES JAIL OVER FAILURE TO SETTLE SH70 MILLION DEBT.

BY SAM ALFAN.

A Kitui county official risks being sent to jail after a supplier applied to have him convicted for failing to pay a debt of Sh63 million.

Fairplan Systems ltd successfully applied to have Ben Katungi, the Kitui county executive member for finance to appear in court and show cause why he should not be jailed for six months for failing to settle the debt.

Katungi is expected to appear before High Court judge Jairus Ngaah on October 12.

Through lawyer Patrick Lutta, the company said it obtained a judgment of Sh63 million in March this year. And despite being served with a demand to settle the debt.

Lutta told the court that a demand letter for payment of the amount was served to Mr Katungi on July 15.

He said he is aware the county has received funds to pay pending bills together with the budgetary allocation for 2021-2022 and unless he is compelled to pay, it will spend the whole sum without paying the company.

“The Respondent has received funds for settling pending bills including the ex-parte Applicant’s together with the budgetary allocation for 2021-2022 from treasury and is stubbornly refusing to pay,” he said.

Lawyer Lutta said finance member Katungi has an obligation to obey the orders issued unless the orders are discharged or set aside.