Lari voters collect signatures to impeach MP Jonah Mburu
Following the arrest of Lari Member of Parliament Jonah Mburu over misappropriation of NG-CDF money, voters in the area have embarked on collecting signatures to impeach him.
Led by political activist Edwin Kigumo, the residents say they have lost trust and confidence in the MP.
"We shall go to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for instructions since we do not need such people as leaders," he said.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission arrested him after DPP Noordin Haji approved charges against the MP and five other NG-CDF officials and suppliers over misuse of Sh 27.2million.
He was later released and is expected to be arraigned at Millimani Law Courts on Monday, alongside CDF Accounts Manager Ayaan Mahadhi, NG-CDF Chairman Peter Mugo Mwangi, and constituency office clerk Francis Gachoka Kimuyu.
The MP and the NG-CDF officials are accused of conflict of interest, by letting their companies do business with the area constituency fund.
Speaking to the People Daily through phone, Mburu said that all the allegations made against him are false and that those alleged to be beneficiaries of tenders are not NG-CDF officials.
"I read malice and witch hunt in the matter. Those said to have been awarded tenders irregularities are indeed not NG-CDF members and hence have all rights of qualifying," he said.
Kigumo also asked the Constituency Development Fund committee to dissolve itself revealing that they will visit the National Government CDF board to compel it to dissolve it since it had indicated open conflict of interest.
"We shall shame them. Their tenure is now gone. We demand the CDF committee to dissolve itself before they are forcefully removed by the board," he said.
Kigumo, Destiny Gitau, and John Karumba lodged the complain to the EACC in March, demanding an investigation be conducted in connection with an audited report they had obtained from the CDF board.
Gitau asked the Registrar of Companies to come up with laws that will monitor companies registered with elected leaders, since they bar other people from getting tenders.
"We want laws on registration of companies to be amended so that leaders can be barred from taking part in tendering since they award their companies," Gitau said.
Ondoa Panya Movement National Coordinator John Wamagata yesterday said once the MP is charged, they will move to court to seek orders to stop the parliamentary service commission from paying his salaries and allowances.
"How can he trusted by the people of Lari. And instead of being an honest patron, he keeps quiet while the conflict of interest takes place?" Wamagata said.
Wamagata said his movement will support the people of Lari until the MP is removed from office and his CDF committee is disbanded.
Wamagata also revealed that his movement will go to the Lari CDF offices and dump heads of rotten pigs and stinking dead rats.
"We collect these dead animals in markers and slaughterhouses. At times we buy them. They are meant to shame" he said.
However, some locals allege the MP was being punished politically. One Dominic Kamau said some MPs who support the DP William Ruto are being implicated in grafts to force them to change their allegiances.
"Even if we have seen a document from the EACC, we are reading politics. No MP or leader can do dare use his company to get tenders where they took part to choose the qualified companies to do a particular job," Kamau alleged.
