Vihiga MCAs in threat to oust clerk over house, car loans
Vihiga County Clerk Josephat Musambayi at the Kakamega Law Courts. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- Order on log books opposed.
- Ward reps have listed seven allegations against county official.
A war of words has erupted between members of the Vihiga County Assembly and a clerk over non-payment of their car loans and mortgages.
Majority Leader David Ogova and his minority counterpart, Peter Amuhinda, have listed seven allegations that could lead to the ouster of Mr Josephat Musambayi as the county clerk.
For his part, Mr Musambayi has accused the 39 MCAs of failing to repay their car loans and mortgages and threatened to withhold their May pay.
In a letter dated April 17, the clerk says the Sh2 million car loan and Sh3 million mortgage was advanced to the MCAs between July and December last year as part of the Vihiga County Assembly Car Loan and Mortgage (Members Scheme Fund) Regulations, 2014.
Mr Musambayi has asked the MCAs to surrender their logbooks for the car loans and title deeds for the mortgage to his office by April 27 for valuation.
The directive has rattled the county legislators, who say their payslips are the only security for the loans.
“The valuers have been scheduled to start valuation work during the long recess that begins in May,” said Mr Musambayi.
“Those loanees who will not have submitted their documents by April 27 will have their salaries for May withheld forthwith. The loanee will meet the valuation costs and insurance cover.”
But the MCAs accused the clerk of intimidation and failing to account for all his actions at the assembly. The ward representatives on Monday called a kamukunji to plan his ouster from office.
QUESTIONED MOTIVE
Addressing journalists, the MCAs said they were paying their loans as required and questioned the motive behind the clerk’s decision to demand their log books and title deeds.
“He has several issues hanging over his shoulders putting his integrity and continued stay in the assembly’s clerk office to question,” Mr Ogova said.
Among the allegations the MCAs have listed against their clerk is a fraud case against him at the Kakamega High Court.
The clerk is charged with fraudulently acquiring land belonging to a dead person.
