Marsabit senator, governor clash over Sh2.1b payment
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute (pictured) now wants state agencies to probe Sh2.1 billion payments, which he alleges, were done irregularly by the county government.
Chute has petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to open an inquiry into the payments.
The Senator says he has prepared a dossier that he has forwarded to the two agencies outlining how governor Mohamud Ali’s devolved unit may have violated the law.
“Please find attached booklet containing an analysis of irregular payment of suppliers from my office, requisition and schedule of supplier from the County government of Marsabit for your perusal and subsequent investigation,” Chute’s letter dated August 2, 2023 reads in part.
Graft claims
The letter to EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak is stamped received on August 3, 2023 while that to DCI Mohamed Amin’s office was received on August 4, 2023.
Governor Ali has however rubbished the graft claims labelling them as nonsensical and misleading while threatening to sue the Senator for defamation.
“Some of these people making the loudest noise wished they supplied the county with various goods and services. Their bitterness is, I said no to corrupt dealings they wanted,” said Ali. “I will not take lightly such unfounded allegations with the intention of tainting my image, reputation and demeaning my persona. I’ve already directed lawyers to dispatch letters for possible legal actions.”
In the dossier, Chute claims over Sh1.3 billion was used for relief food and water supply to drought hit areas in the last one year alone contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.
The other payments questioned include Sh382.2 million spent for constructions services, Sh44.2 million for solid waste, Sh134.2 million for water services and Sh200 million for Health Services.
