Fresh battle for Kabogo as MCAs petition Senate to suspend purchase of 72 cars

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo is facing a new battle after a fresh petition to suspend the purchase of 72 vehicles was tabled in the Senate.

MCAs said the approval of Sh221 million for purchase of the vehicles, said to be for a single department, was not procedurally done.

Led by Ngewa Ward Rep Karungo wa Thang'wa, a number of MCAs have put up a spirited fight against the intended purchase of the cars.

This comes barely two weeks after the Senate Finance Committee visited the county to investigate claims that high business levies were likely to discourage investment.

The governor is also grappling with protests from residents opposed to the moving of the county headquarters from Kiambu to Thika.

In the petition presented to the Senate by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, the MCAs claimed that the governor pushed for adoption of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill that allows re-allocation of development funds to buy the vehicles.

They said Mr Kabogo declined to sign the Bill that had been amended by the Assembly to capture public views, which included reduction of the vehicles from 72 to 15.

The Bill was returned to the Assembly with new conditions that required the MCAs opposed to be two thirds of all MCAs.

Mr Wamatangi said the two thirds requirement was being abused by governors to overlook the views of the majority.

“There is a lot of tension in the county as well as in the Assembly due to the governor forcing, through the Assembly, this illegal and unpopular scheme,” said Mr Wamatangi.

AMEND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ACT

In the Petition, the MCAs challenged the Senate to make appropriate amendments to the County Governments Act to insulate the budget-making and appropriation process from abuse by governors.

Vihiga Senator George Khaniri supported the petition saying it was unfortunate that some county officials had resorted to spending public funds on non-priority expenses.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior termed the governor’s move as unfair and illegal.

“Practices where money allocated for development is diverted should be discouraged. Time has come for us to jail a few people to serve as a lesson,” said Mr Kilonzo Junior.

Some Members of the Kiambu County Assembly followed proceedings from the Speaker’s gallery as Mr Wamatangi tore into Governor Kabogo’s leadership style.

Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, who said the Senate cannot assume judicial functions, committed the petition to the Finance Committee and asked the members to expedite the matter.