Jack Ranguma faces Senate to answer cash claims

Governor Jack Ranguma will on Wednesday appear before the Senate to respond to cash allegations made against him by some ward representatives.

Mr Joseph Osano (Chemelil), Elijah Omondi (Central Nyakach) and Aggrey Ogosi (East Seme) want the governor investigated on alleged loss of revenue, skewed employment and failure to respect the rule of law.

Mr Ranguma on Tuesday said he was ready to appear before a joint Committee on Devolution and Finance to set the record straight.

“I will be there. There is nothing to hide. We will answer all the questions,” he said in a telephone interview just before flying to Nairobi.

The reps have appeared before the committee.

'WITHOUT VETTING'

In their 32-page petition tabled by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o in March, the three reps want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the governor.

One of them, Mr Ogosi, told the Nation on Tuesday that he and his colleagues were unhappy with the “casual manner in which Mr Ranguma has been conducting himself since assuming office”.

Key issues in the petition include claims that the governor hired chief officers without vetting. “Of the 12, only four were vetted while an additional four were hired yet the county had advertised for 10,” Mr Ogosi alleged.

The reps also want alleged revenue losses investigated. “In 2013/14 we estimated the county would collect Sh3.4 billion. Only Sh621 million was collected, with the figure dropping to Sh600 million in 2014/15,” he said.

Procurement, including vehicle purchases, and renovations to the governor’s offices will also be investigated. “We want him to say why tenders for works costing more than Sh6 million have been awarded without proper procedure,” they said.

Mr Ranguma has also been summoned by his ODM party’s disciplinary committee to explain the wrangles rocking the county assembly but that meeting is yet to materialise.