AfricaPress-Kenya: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned Bungoma Members of County Assembly to shed light on the Sh2 million they received as allowances.
The agency is investigating claims that 56 elected and nominated MCAs received between Sh30,000 and Sh40,000 each on April 18 to dissuade them from probing monies spent on purchase of jerrycans to be used in the fight against Covid-19.
The commission interrogated 12 MCAs on May 13 and more were expected to appear before the EACC sleuths yesterday.One of the MCAs, who sought anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that the money came from an international non-governmental organisation to be used for training and sensitising the public on how to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bungoma County Government officials adversely mentioned in the matter have also been summoned by the EACC.Majority leader Florence Fulano said she was convinced the allowances were from the NGO.
Martin Wanyonyi, Ndivisi MCA confirmed receiving EACC summons, adding that they were ready to refund the money.The MCAs who refused to take the allowance are members of the health committee who had vowed to investigate the matter.
The ward reps had asked Governor Wycliffe Wangamati last month to take legal action against senior county officials who had allegedly used public funds meant for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
20-odd MCAs from different parties told journalists they support Mr Wangamati’s assertion in interview on a local vernacular radio station that money had been misappropriated.Wangamati asked the assembly to investigate the matter to its logical conclusion.
“The County Assembly should take stern action after completing investigations on how the money was spent,” said the governor.The chairman of the health committee, Mr George Makari, said there was enough evidence to show that Sh11.9 million had been taken from Webuye and Bungoma referral hospitals illegally and misappropriated by senior county government officials.
Wangamati later made an about-turn and said the alleged purchase of the 600 20-litre jerrycans at Sh10,000 each was falsehood peddled by his detractors out to undermine his government.
