Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto addresses a press conference in Nairobi on September 30, 2014. FILE PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Twelve governors and dozens of chief officers of various county governments are facing investigations for alleged corruption.
A
corruption report tabled in both the National Assembly and the Senate
on Tuesday lists a number of accusations levelled against the governors,
chief officers and members of county assemblies.
They include irregular procurement of goods and services and misuse of county funds.
In the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission report, the allegations against outspoken Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto stand out.
The
anti-graft agency says it is investigating how Mr Ruto acquired immense
wealth, including a helicopter, 40 earthmovers, tippers and graders,
and a palatial residence worth Sh33 million in Ngong, Kajiado County.
The commission puts Mr Ruto’s accumulated wealth at Sh400 million and the value of the aircraft at Sh300 million.
The county boss is also said to own a string of petrol stations, the report notes.
The
anti-graft watchdog says it is also investigating Mr Ruto over the
hiring of Red Cross ambulances at a cost of Sh650,000 a month.
Mr Ruto dismissed the allegations, terming them “hogwash”.
“The
source of those cheap rumours were leaflets circulated in Bomet some
time back by people bent on stirring disaffection. As for the
ambulances, they are very popular in Bomet because they have really
helped the sick access hospitals in the shortest time possible,” he
said.
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Nairobi
Governor Evans Kidero is being investigated for allegedly signing a
Sh4.6 billion deal to launch a metro transport system through a
procedure suspected to be flawed.
The commission is
also investigating Dr Kidero for his alleged processing of Sh300 million
in legal fees and the payment of Sh280 million for services that were
never rendered.
The payments are said to have been made
to the personal account of Senior Counsel Tom Ojienda as opposed to
that of the contracted law firm, Ojienda & Co. Advocates.
Homa
Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti is accused of irregularly paying Sh200
million to an investor to implement a project without a feasibility
study being done.
“This was allegedly a ploy to
embezzle funds as the said project has stalled and the investors
reportedly disappeared soon after the funds were transferred to them,”
says the report.
The commission says it is
investigating allegations that Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi bought his
official residence at Sh140 million without following procurement
procedures.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is being
investigated for allegedly facilitating the grabbing of the Mwembe
Tayari Market by a Mr Bawazir and a Mr Zubedi by authorising the
demolition of the original burnt structure under the guise of flushing
out drug addicts and muggers.
Migori Governor Okoth
Obado is under investigation for procurement excesses and misuse of
public funds amounting to Sh600 million.
Another
governor being investigated by the anti-corruption agency is Meru’s
Peter Munya. He is accused of misusing public funds on fuelling,
servicing and repair of a private vehicle.
The report
says the agency is also investigating Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok
for alleged irregular payments of Sh14 million to a contractor for the
construction of a non-existent bridge.
The commission
says it is analysing evidence in a case in which Machakos Governor
Alfred Mutua single sourced a contractor to renovate the Kenyatta
Stadium at a cost of Sh87 million that was not budgeted for.
Other governors on the list are Samuel Tunai (Narok), Godana Doyo (isiolo), Nadhif Jama (Garissa) and Ukur Yattani (Marsabit).
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