Reps take 'goodies' from executive to cover up graft

Members of the Kiambu County Assembly, which has been grappling with allegations of bribery and extortion, are once again on the spot for allegedly “going to bed” with the county executive to cover-up wrongdoings.

This is after members of a sectorial committee scuttled attempts to put to task the county executive in charge of Youth and Sports Machel Waikenda and chief officer Marie Mugo over alleged misappropriation of funds.

The two had appeared before the Youth and Sports Affairs Committee after a report accused the department of disbursing the Sh300 million Biashara Fund unequally among the wards, and also saving the money in a fixed account to reap the earned interest.

Documents prepared by Waikenda and tabled in the House indicated that one of the bank accounts had accrued an interest of Sh1.02 million, which was credited to the same account.

But after scrutinising the bank records, Ngewa MCA Karungo Thang’wa, who had requested a statement on the matter, told the House that the accrued interest reflected on November 19, 2015, but was withdrawn eight days later by a Mr Stanley Chege using a cheque leaf No 000054.

But the same committee that was supposed to grill the two surprisingly halted the exercise, with committee chairman Joe Mutunga (Biashara Ward), adjourning the session indefinitely.

This caused an uproar among the members who traded accusations.  

The two officials had appeared before the sectorial committee on Tuesday but minutes after the session kicked off, Ms Alice Wamuhu (nominated) requested that journalists be kicked out as the matter was too sensitive to be put in the spotlight.

DANGER TO DEVOLUTION

This prompted Mr Mutunga to temporarily adjourn to get directions from Speaker Gathii Irungu as to whether the media should cover the session.

Mr Mutunga later resumed after more than two hours with a ruling from the Speaker that all Assembly committee sessions should be open to the public, but that on some specific issues he may be required to give a ruling.

Though Mr Gathii did not define the Tuesday session as among the “specific” ones, Mr Mutunga adjourned indefinitely until the Speaker rules on the matter.

Riabai Ward MCA Martin Wachira said his colleagues at the committee had conspired with the executive to hide the truth from the public, claims that Mr Mutunga quickly refuted.

Mr Thangwa said some committee members were working in concert with the executive and a number of them given tenders worth millions in return, compromising independent oversight.

Limuru Central MCA Njenga Murugami said they would write to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Senate to investigate the matter, saying the county assembly can no longer be trusted to oversight the executive.

Senator Kimani Wamatangi is warning that such actions are a threat to devolution.