Vihiga assembly recommends Musambayi sacking
What you need to know:
- An ad hoc committee says Josephat Musambayi has lost credibility.
- The Clerk is also fighting a fraud case at a Kakamega court
A committee investigating the conduct of suspended Vihiga County Assembly Clerk Josephat Musambayi has recommended his removal.
The ad hoc committee, in a report to be tabled in the House on Wednesday, said Mr Musambayi had lost credibility.
Mr Musambayi is accused of planning a Sh2.3 million trip to Singapore without the approval of the Assembly Service Board, as well as irregular procurement processes in the House.
The Clerk is also fighting a fraud case at a Kakamega court where he is accused of planning to acquire land belonging to a dead relative fraudulently.
The 13-member committee led by Leader of Majority Andrew Ahuga further recommended a freeze on his bank accounts following the discovery of huge anomalies in two Assembly accounts.
They said the imprest, car loan and mortgage accounts had serious irregularities.
“We recommend that a forensic audit should be carried out on the accounts under the clerk’s name. The audit should be conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) so that the Assembly can reclaim all the money lost,” says the report signed by Mr Ahuga.
Other accusations raised against Mr Musambayi are the failure to advertise the position of his deputy, non-payments of staff for three months and insubordination.
He also faces charges of frustrating external members of the County Assembly Service Board and failing to provide a harmonised supplementary budget.
DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR
The report however failed to recommend any action against the deputy governor Caleb Amaswache who is accused of disorderly behaviour while on a trip to Singapore.
The conduct of Mr Amaswache while in Singapore is currently being investigated by another ad hoc committee set up by the assembly last week, a move that guided the Ahuga-led committee.
“Going by the current revelations into the assembly’s bank accounts and the witness given by the procurement department, Mr Musambayi cannot be allowed to hold onto the office of the Clerk,” said Reuben Ombima, the vice chairman of the committee.
The Wednesday morning session is expected to attract a large audience following the attention the matter has attracted since April 18.
