MPs want Ongwae, Nyagarama probed over corrupt dealings
Members of Parliament (MPs) allied to Deputy President William Ruto have called for the arrest and prosecution of Kisii Governor James Ongwae and his Nyamira counterpart John Nyagarama over corruption allegations that they claim is hurting the economy of Gusii region.
Led by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko and his South Mugirango counterpart Sylvanus Osoro, the MPs alleged that millions of money allocated for development in the two counties have been misappropriated through corrupt dealings by the governors and their county executives.
For instance, the duo stated that Governor Ongwae’s cronies and relatives own local companies under proxy accounts, which they use to tender, win and do ghost projects at the expense of honest suppliers and contractors.
They also claimed that the county chief executives allegedly collude with procurement officers and the finance department, irregularly to scoop huge tenders worth millions of money.
“It is a well-known fact that there are several pending bills in these counties and yet we know that every time they get money, they pay their cronies and relatives who do ghost projects at the expense of genuine contractors,” they MPs said in a statement read by South Mugirango Legislator.
They added: “In fact we know of contractors who have died because of frustrations arising from non-payments.”
The lawmakers included Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga and MPs Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango), Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), Matthew Robi (Kuria West) and local politicians Don Bosco Gichana and Zaheer Jhanda.
However, the legislators have asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to discontinue protecting the “corrupt governors” and let them face the law for their graft practices which is hurting the people of Gusii region.
“We are telling him to arrest these governors, who are corrupt and stealing from our people. They should not hide behind Uhuru-Raila handshake and BBI, they must be brought to book,” said Nyamoko.
While asking the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into the corruption allegations in the counties of Nyamira and Kisii, the lawmakers asked the county bosses to pay genuine pending bills and save honest contractors from the untold sufferings they are undergoing.
“To this extent, we are appealing to the people of the two counties to stand up and demand for both Justice and Services,” he said.
Already, the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to initiate investigations into a series of rip-offs in the county ranging from fraudulent procurement and hiring of staff.
A source has told People Daily, that the DPP acted upon receiving documented evidence of corruption and abuse of office allegations from petitioners Boniface Mangaa and Vincent Mose.
They duo had complained over the repair of various streets in Kisii town by the county government without following procurement procedure.
At the same time, the legislators have condemned the mistreatment of Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi by his boss over what they termed as his stand on corruption.
The irate politicians complained that the deputy governor has been trailed by suspicious vehicles with government registration and intimidated by agents of the Kisii county Government.
“His staff has been transferred and very remarkably, his official vehicles were taken away from him last Friday at 4AM by 12 armed police officers,”
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the impunity portrayed by the governor of Kisii in using the government resources to harass his perceived enemies when they question corrupt practices,” they added.
