Mbooni MP Michael Kisoi  photo courtesy of K24

Mbooni MP Michael Kisoi
photo courtesy of K24

 

By Daniel Kituku

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana should relieve off duties officers arraigned in a Machakos court over graft allegations.

Speaking on Saturday in Nduluku, Mbooni Sub County during the launch of Hon. Kisoi Munyao talent search MP for Mbooni Michael Kisoi Munyao and three Members of the Makueni County Assembly (MCAs) gave Kibwana a 21 -day ultimatum to send the officers packing until the court cases are determined.

Kisoi and Ward Representative for Kisau /Kiteta Jackson Ngovi, and his counterparts from Kako/Waia and Kalawa wards Mutinda Mwangangi and Patrick Kithale respectively said Makueni county had lagged behind due to corruption noting that this was the opportune time to fight the vice.

The leaders said if Kibwana fails send the officers home they will lead Makueni residents to the county headquarters and forcibly remove them from office.

“We shall not relent in this fight against corruption,” said the MP.

Last Thursday Ethics and Anti-corruption officers arrested eight officers working in Makueni county government and arraigned them on Friday in a Machakos law court for graft.

Ag.County Secretary Rael Muthoka, Director of Tourism Diana Muli, Agriculture Chief Executive Officer Mary Muteti, Roads and Infrastructure Chief Officer Martin Kitavi, Director Finance Justus Suka, Director Procurement Alex Kyalo, former Chief Executive for Water Daniel Mututa and his former Education counterpart Augustine Kitheka were charged in Machakos law court for willful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement contrary to section 45(2)(b) as read together with section 48 of the Anti-corruption and Economic crimes Act, 2003.

According to the prosecution, the eight who are members of the tender committee, on the 21st day of June 2014 within Makueni county , being employees of Makueni County Government jointly and willfully failed to comply with the law relating to procurement with regulation 10(2)(a) of the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations of 2006 by failing to ascertain all procurement processes had been undertaken when awarding the contract for supply, installation and commissioning of a skid mini dairy plant at Kikima farmers coop- society in Mbooni Sub – County to ASL Ltd.

The Ag.County Secretary Ms. Muthoka, also faced two alternative charges of abuse of office contrary to section 46 as read with section 48 of the Anti- Corruption and Economic Crimes Act no 3 of 2003 and failure to comply with the law relating to the procurement contrary to section 45(2)(b) as read together with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act , 2003.

Ms.Muthoka was released on a cash bond of Sh300, 000 while the other seven were released each on a cash bail of Sh100, 000.

The Governor has however denied the allegations that his officers have been involved in graft and accused the MCAs of reporting the tender committee to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).