Residents of Nyandarua County have termed the recent raid by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), targeting Governor Francis Kimemia’s office as long overdue.
The lobby group consisting of politicians, civil society and faith based organization led by Former Deputy Governor, Waithaka Kirika, accused the anti-graft watchdog for turning a blind eye on the massive corruption that had characterized Kimemia’s Administration, with many reported cases going uninvestigated.
Under the hashtag #SetNyandaruaFree, the team accused EACC, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Senate for not taming the governor’s ‘appetite’ for public funds.
“The misappropriation of Sh.14.4m on the Investors conference that never took off, Sh. 51m branding scandal in 2019, the Sh.500M single sourced road machinery and equipment and Sh. 400m Covid-19 intervention funds among other charges have gone uninvestigated,” Waithaka accused.
Just last week, the EACC Central Region Officers visited the County offices for an investigation of allegations of misappropriation of Sh. 51m branding tender awarded to a company suspected to be registered under the son of one of the County senior officials.
Dr. Simon Kanyingi, regretted that Jubilee Party failure to clinch Rurii Ward by-elections last week was a protest by Nyandarua residents to what embezzlement that has been going on in the County.
“We need the conduct of all officers in the County Government, including the County Assembly vetted as there is no longer separation of powers as set out in the County Governments Act. Everyone, including the MCAs sing to the tunes of the County Boss,” lamented former Nyahururu Mayor, Peter Thiare.
“Overnight millionaires are many, we knew them with just a pair of shoes but they now own range rovers and dozens of Lorries,” The group alleged,
They accused the Governor of funding the endless wars in the Assembly using government funds meant for development.
“I can say without fear of contradiction that 70 per cent of Nyandarua development funds are ‘eaten’ by a single person. He also buys the police to protect him,” Dr. Moses Kiarie, well known as Badilisha said.
By Antony Mwangi and Anne Sabuni
