Kiambu MCAs speak out over plan to impeach Nyoro
A section of Kiambu County Assembly Members have rubbished claims that plans are underway to impeach Governor James Nyoro.
They termed the claims as unfounded propaganda and a waste of time terming those spreading the same as "busy bodies whose aim is to be called and silenced via a brown envelope."
The civic leaders at the same time defended Nyoro against alleged misappropriation of funds by his administration.
Led by Kinoo MCA Kimani Wanjiku, they accused a few of their colleagues of being used by external forces to attack the county boss hoping to derail his development plans.
Wanjiku said that it would be prudent for those alleging that funds have been misused to seek legal redress instead of using both mainstream and social media platforms to raise unsubstantiated claims.
"They are being used by people who want to dethrone Nyoro in 2022. This is unfortunate because they are playing politics at the expense of development," he said.
He spoke at Kinoo on Sunday after attending a peace prayer meeting convened by the area pastors association where they prayed for the country and it's leadership as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Saturday, Nyoro categorically dismissed as malicious the audit report that raises queries over the county's alleged misuse of funds.
The county chief attributed the allegations to cartels whom he claimed are fighting back after his administration sealed off loopholes through which public money was being stolen.
Nyoro said since he took over from his impeached predecessor Ferdinand Waititu about a year ago, the county's revenue collection has nearly tripled after measures were taken to close gaps through which money was lost.
"In December last year the entire county collected Sh 19 million for that month only but in about three weeks the figure has shot up to Sh 51 million. You should ask yourselves where was this money going," Nyoro said.
The visibly irritated Governor said the Auditor General's report was a leaked draft document which he termed as "management letter" which forms the preliminary of investigations.
"We have responded to the issues raised and the final audit report which comes out in about a week will confirm that no money was misused or lost. The leaked report is the work of cartels fighting back and I am asking those behind it to also leak the final document," Nyoro said.
The report dated December 31, 2020 had indicated that the county spent Sh19.5 million on airtime as well as Sh1.69 million in buying 11 phones while another Sh1.1 million was paid out as 'lunch' to participants who could not be traced.
Other issues contained in the report prepared by W. K. Kamula on behalf of the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, include alleged irregular procurement and dubious payment for conference facilities for training in two hotels, which are owned by the same directors against the law.
However, Nyoro said his government has streamlined all revenue collection and expenditure processes to rout out corruption and protect public funds.
This includes use of cashless systems to pay for services like parking, hospitals, and quarries among others.
