Governors fault EACC over probes

The Council of Governors is on a collision course with the anti-corruption agency over investigations into alleged scandals in various counties.

Yesterday, the council’s chairman, Mr Peter Munya, accused the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of being used by enemies of devolution to intimidate county bosses.

“The EACC is being used in a witch-hunt. That is why there is an onslaught on counties by the commission. What the council is saying is that if anybody is involved in corruption, action must be taken against them. But the commission should not use tactics akin to the ones used by Kanu to silence opponents,” Mr Munya said by phone.

He, however, denied reports that governors had held a meeting in Mombasa to discuss strategies of fighting back allegations of widespread corruption in various county governments.

“The council is not an oversight body to discuss issues such as wheelbarrows. The governor has explained that there is an internal audit going on to get to the bottom of the matter, so let us await its outcome,” said Mr Munya.

He was referring to reports that the Bungoma County government bought 10 wheelbarrows at a cost of Sh109,000 each.

'INVASION OF PRIVACY'

Mr Munya, however, acknowledged that governors had discussed and condemned the manner in which EACC detectives raided the office and homes of Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong and carted away crucial documents and computers.

“There must be a line between conducting investigations and invading one’s privacy. You do not storm a governor’s residence, break doors and take away personal effects in the name of conducting investigations,” said Mr Munya, who is also the Meru governor.

The High Court has since ordered the EACC to return the computers it confiscated while conducting investigations into alleged fraud.

It directed the agency to copy the relevant data in the presence of an agent of the county government to allow normal services to resume.

The Nyeri County government has also been on the spot over the acquisition of a gynaecological bed for Sh1.3 million at a time when patients are going without food.

The Embu County government is also accused of spending Sh13 million to erect a gate at its headquarters. Governor Martin Wambora, however, has dismissed the claims, saying the county had allocated only Sh9 million for the project, which includes the erection of a perimeter wall and a clock tower.

He further said the amount also covers some beautification work.