Kilifi governor Amason Kingi is walking a tight rope as county leaders and residents demand for quick action on a controversial house purchase deal that gobbled up millions of shillings.
There are claims that the governor’s official residence in Kilifi town was bought from a white man for Sh50 million but Sh168 million was reflected in the county books as the amount of money spent on the property.
It is further claimed after the first sale agreement was sealed between the property owner and Kilifi county government, unscrupulous officials later secretly drew a second agreement in which the inflated cost was reflected and the additional amount stolen.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials have been accused of dilly dallying with the matter since early last year when they summoned the governor to record a statement in their offices in Mombasa.
There are rumours that when it became evident that the EACC officials intended to charge Kingi in court, a certain influential Coast governor who is a close friend of the head of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in Mombasa reportedly intervened and the issue fizzled out.
It is however said the investigating officers were not happy with the interference by their senior in the matter since they had allegedly laid their hands on concrete evidence of theft of public funds.
At the same time, it is said the officers were fed with information on how the county government bought second hand vehicles at inflated cost. The vehicles were allegedly supplied to the county by a relative of a top official in the county.
Kilifi residents are now planning a series of demos to exert pressure on the EACC to charge those responsible with the looting of public coffers in the county.
“We want all looters to be arraigned in court because our county is among the poorest in the country and we had hoped the advent of devolution would have changed our lives, but our own people whom we elected have turned to be hungry hyenas,” lamented Steve Kazungu from Kaloleni.
Meanwhile, supporters of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro have begun to popularise their candidate. Mung’aro is being pushed to replace the embattled governor Kingi.
Mung’aro who has been pursuing a leadership degree course at St Paul’s University is about to graduate in readiness for a battle to become Kilifi county governor. He is a popular politician across the board and his candidature has caused a scare among his would be opponents including Kingi.
It is said Kingi is plotting to have Mung’aro denied an ODM ticket but supporters of the Kilifi North MP say their man is likely to be voted in on any party ticket.
Already, Mung’aro is crafting his campaign team for 2017 and a number of aspirants are scrambling to be close to him. It is said the Kilifi North MP’s endorsement has the potential to guarantee one an election victory in the county.
During the world women’s day, Mung’aro was hosted in Kaloleni constituency by Paul Katana, who was runners-up in the constituency in the last general elections. Of late, Katana has been sighted several times in the company of Mung’aro, causing a great discomfort in Gunga Mwinga’s political camp.
There are claims that the governor’s official residence in Kilifi town was bought from a white man for Sh50 million but Sh168 million was reflected in the county books as the amount of money spent on the property.
It is further claimed after the first sale agreement was sealed between the property owner and Kilifi county government, unscrupulous officials later secretly drew a second agreement in which the inflated cost was reflected and the additional amount stolen.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials have been accused of dilly dallying with the matter since early last year when they summoned the governor to record a statement in their offices in Mombasa.
There are rumours that when it became evident that the EACC officials intended to charge Kingi in court, a certain influential Coast governor who is a close friend of the head of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in Mombasa reportedly intervened and the issue fizzled out.
It is however said the investigating officers were not happy with the interference by their senior in the matter since they had allegedly laid their hands on concrete evidence of theft of public funds.
At the same time, it is said the officers were fed with information on how the county government bought second hand vehicles at inflated cost. The vehicles were allegedly supplied to the county by a relative of a top official in the county.
Kilifi residents are now planning a series of demos to exert pressure on the EACC to charge those responsible with the looting of public coffers in the county.
“We want all looters to be arraigned in court because our county is among the poorest in the country and we had hoped the advent of devolution would have changed our lives, but our own people whom we elected have turned to be hungry hyenas,” lamented Steve Kazungu from Kaloleni.
Meanwhile, supporters of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro have begun to popularise their candidate. Mung’aro is being pushed to replace the embattled governor Kingi.
Mung’aro who has been pursuing a leadership degree course at St Paul’s University is about to graduate in readiness for a battle to become Kilifi county governor. He is a popular politician across the board and his candidature has caused a scare among his would be opponents including Kingi.
It is said Kingi is plotting to have Mung’aro denied an ODM ticket but supporters of the Kilifi North MP say their man is likely to be voted in on any party ticket.
Already, Mung’aro is crafting his campaign team for 2017 and a number of aspirants are scrambling to be close to him. It is said the Kilifi North MP’s endorsement has the potential to guarantee one an election victory in the county.
During the world women’s day, Mung’aro was hosted in Kaloleni constituency by Paul Katana, who was runners-up in the constituency in the last general elections. Of late, Katana has been sighted several times in the company of Mung’aro, causing a great discomfort in Gunga Mwinga’s political camp.
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