Investigate governor, say senators

Senators want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi for alleged skewed award of contracts and tenders to companies linked to him and close relatives.

In a report tabled in the House, the Senate finance committee said there was adequate evidence to prove that the county had favoured those companies when contracts were given in the 2013/14 financial year.

The House team chaired by Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow made the recommendation after investigating allegations in a petition by Wajir residents.

Mr Kerrow’s team was to look into the issues raised in the petition and report to the House.

“The committee finds that there is substance to the allegation by the petitioner and the Director of Public Prosecution should investigate and take necessary action against the governor for abuse of office,” said the committee in the report placed before the House before it broke for recess a week ago.

The petition was presented to the Senate by the Wajir Anti-Corruption and Justice Forum, which branded itself as a group of citizens from the county keen on prudent use of devolved resources.

In the petition, they said the governor misappropriated a total of Sh1 billion in the 2013/14 financial year.

According to them, this happened through blatant theft, award of contracts to firms linked to the governor, his relatives or members of his clan. 

He was also accused of discrimination in the allocation of public resources by employing residents who came from his home place.

The petitioners also accused the governor of failing to adhere to the procurement laws in the distribution of tenders.