Angry parents in Vihiga county demonstrated recently baying for the blood of an amorous deputy principal who allegedly went out on a night escapade with his girl student at a local joint.
The parents barricaded the gates of Mbihi Secondary School looking for the deputy head whom they threatened to lynch for luring the 19-year-old Form Four student to a lodging room at Chavakali town.
It is now claimed that the deputy has impregnated the girl who has come out in public to spill the beans saying that this was the fifth time to have sex with the teacher and that they never used condom.
The girl’s parent said his daughter came home claiming to be sick and he gave her money to seek treatment at Vihiga District Hospital but instead the girl who had prior arrangement with the deputy head proceeded to Chavakali.
He said a person who knew the girl rang him at night after he saw the student with the teacher at a popular drinking spot. He then proceeded to the school the next morning but the daughter was not at the institution with the school authorities confirming they had issued her with a sick leave chit out of school and she was yet to report back.
The father had to wait at the school gate and was shocked when her daughter was dropped by a boda boda motorcycle operator at about 9 am. The student was equally shocked to see her father and amid sobs, she admitted she had spent a night with the deputy head teacher whom she said had been making sexual advances on her since she joined the school. She said she was forced to give in after the teacher threatened to frustrate her academically if she refused his advances.
The school principal Benard Mudome said investigations had been launched into the incident. Vihiga Kuppet executive secretary Fred Mayabi who was in a meeting when asked for his comment sent a text message expressing his shock over the incident.
Kenya's Most Authoritative Political Newspaper
Sunday, 28 September 2014
GRAFT STINKING TO HIGH HEAVENS IN KILIFI COUNTY
Kilifi
senator Stewart Madzayo has accused Governor Amason Kingi and his government of
entertaining corruption and running the affairs of the county in a backstreet
manner causing loss of millions of shillings meant for development.
Madzayo
who is a former Industrial Court judge wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Commission headed by Mumo Matemu to investigate the allegations and take
decisive action against Kilifi county officials who are allegedly mismanaging
public funds with impunity.
“Corruption
at Kilifi county government has reached levels that we can no longer keep quiet
about. Every corner you look at, it is corruption. Citizens are complaining of
lack of services yet a few individuals are scheming everyday on how to steal
from them. This is unacceptable,” said Madzayo in a terse statement.
The
senator wondered why top Kilifi county officials who have been implicated in
corruption were yet to be charged in court in connection with the controversial
purchase of governor’s official residence and the supply of second hand motor
vehicles to the county government months after they were summoned to record
statements.
Months
back, Governor Kingi was summoned to EACC offices in Mombasa to be grilled in
connection with the controversial purchase of the governor’s house in Kilifi
town which was said to have cost a whopping Sh140 million, a figure real estate
experts are disputing, saying there is no house in Kilifi that costs that much.
The
EACC sleuths were also said to have been interested in establishing claims that
the county government vehicles were bought second hand but supplied to the
county at a cost of brand new ones. The supplier of the said vehicles, it is
claimed, is a close relative to a top county official.
On
top of this, it is further claimed that contractors were being single sourced
for purposes of ensuring kickbacks are duly paid and the public service board
headed by former Kenya Ports Authority MD James Mulewa was allegedly selling
positions of employment to the highest bidder.
Madzayo
says it is high time Kingi was forced to resign to save the county from
mismanagement. He says the trend is worrying and almost everyone is complaining
of bad governance.
“How
can we continue like this if the majority are not seeing or experiencing the
benefits of devolution? This cartel must be told enough is enough,” the senator
retorted.
ANTI-TERROR SLEUTHS HIT HARD ISLAMIC SCHOOL
An
Islamic institution in Nguluni, Matungulu in Machakos county has been closed
down after a team of detectives from the Anti-Terror Police Unit raided it
after it was established that the institution was being used as a youth
radicalisation and indoctrination centre.
The
centre known as Darul Irshaade is believed to have been producing terror
agents, whose training is extended to Somalia. According to intelligence
information gathered since July 2011, when the institution was put under
surveillance, more than 30 students aged between 18 and 30 had been killed over
involvement in criminal activities and 10 more are suspected to be undergoing
training in Somalia.
Investigations
reveal that the school which is an Islamic institution has finally been closed
down after investigations revealed that it was involved in shady and criminal
activities since 2011.
We
have information that the National Intelligence Service headed by Director
General Wachira Kameru, Criminal Intelligence Unit and ATPU are not leaving
anything to chance in their fight against terrorism. Of late, the Islamic
institution has increased its recruitment, with more than 4,000 students having
enrolled since it was established in 1997.
RUTO UNSEEN HAND HAND IN MUDAVADI UDF FUEDS
The axe fell sooner than we expected. Weekly Citizen predicted that interim UDF chairman Hassan Osman would be sacked for lack of integrity and sabotage activities. That has come to pass with his summary dismissal by the party NEC organ.
But even before the dust could settle, the Political Parties Dispute Resolution Tribunal reversed the decision to suspend Osman and executive officials terming the move as unprocedural and unlawful.
UDF top organ is now blaming Deputy President William Ruto as having influenced the tribunal to reverse the decision of the NEC. It has been whispered that Ruto’s game plan is to have Hassan and his group kick out Mudavadi and his deputy, former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and to render them party less.
Sources say it was through Ruto’s advice that Hassan set up a legal team led by lawyer Hassan Lakicha who moved under certificate of urgency and sued Mudavadi for failing to follow the laiddown procedures in the removal of the party’s chairman and executive committee members.
Investigations by Weekly Citizen now reveal that after the NEC meeting that purported to have suspended him, Hassan is said to have consulted widely including reaching out to Mudavadi’s political opponents. Last week, he and his team were busy setting up a new office after the Mudavadi group kicked them out.
Interestingly, Hassan could be unaware of the misfortune that the thin circle of former officials hovering around him early this month had secretly signed a petition for his removal. What is keeping them around is the hefty handouts whose source is unknown to them. But they are busy distancing themselves from his actions in droves.
Trouble for Osman began sometimes in March this year following a heated blamegame between Hassan and Senator Martha Wangari who is treasurer and the CEO Petronila Were over a raid at the UDF offices.
At the retreat in Naivasha, Hassan teamed up with Were in accusing the senator of organising the raid. However, in confessing, Martha instead accused Hassan of dishonesty because the chairman knew the property had been taken to the “owner” who turned out to be a former State House official.
Back to Omar’s sacking, the ransacking of the party property only formed part of the reasons he was shown the door. Documents in our possession reveal a plethora of accusations touching on Hassan’s integrity, lack of transparency and accountability in running party affairs, disrespect to other party leaders and MPs and sabotage of party activities.
It was revealed that the chairman had never signed NEC minutes that would prompt action by the secretariat for the last two years. This meant that no party programme takes off and therefore UDF had become moribund. Stories abound how he sabotaged the women from Mandera by ensuring they do not attend a sponsored training.
That things could get this bad in UDF and why they have been tolerated for so long beats reason, remarked, Roba Duba, UDF party whip who read the statement to the media disowning Hassan on behalf of MPs.
“Hassan Osman had lost our confidence and support long time ago but we held our horses hoping he would reform his fraudulent ways of undermining the party. He is the greediest, dishonest and untrustworthy fellow you can ever work with,” he said
What perhaps irked the party most was a letter that called MPs to whom Hassan owes his nomination busybodies, strangers and masqueraders in the party. In a press conference, Omar labelled decisions to rebrand the party as tribalism.
He also said he is opposed to delinking UDF from Jubilee cooperation agreement where he has been a most vociferous proponent to revoke it.
Many were shocked that a man who brought no votes and seats to UDF continues to throw insults at those who are his benefactors. UDF MPs also questioned his level of honesty when it emerged that he could be one of those claiming millions in false mileage thus soiling the name of the party.
Another ghost that has now returned to haunt Osman is a claim that he is unable and had blocked accounting for Sh13.5m in nominations fees.
On removal of Osman, Mudavadi chaired a meeting and a list of new party officials was released. This is the list that has been blocked by the Political Parties Dispute Resolution Tribunal.
The list comprises of Party leader Musalia Mudavadi, deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni, chairman Kassim Sawa, 1st deputy chairman Yare Mohammed, 2nd deputy chairperson Jane Marwa, secretary general Justus Kizito Mugalla, deputy secretary general George Nyamweya, treasurer Martha Wangari, deputy treasurer Ndiritu Muriithi, organising secretary Basil Mwakiringo, deputy organising secretary Naisiae Karia, Hassan Dukicha, chairman UDF party representatives group, Duba, chief whip of party representatives group. Women league leader, Beatrice Adagala, youth league leader, George Thuranira and chairman national election board, Abraham Limo.
Immediately the changes were made, Mudavadi reached out to his supporters to back the move and on the same evening, university students and UDF youth democrats from Vihiga county hurriedly called a press conference and issued a statement in support of the move.
The statement reads in part: “We take this opportunity to thank the UDF party leadership for the tremendous changes carried out to strengthen the party across the country. We are in solidarity with all Kenyans who have sighed relief at the exit of Hassan Osman”.
In the statement, the students said: “The UDF party belongs to members not a group or individual. Anyone imagining that UDF members will watch as their party is cannibalised is dreaming. Hassan has also no muscle to attempt a coup against our respected party leader Musalia Mudavadi”.
The students blamed Hassan for frustrating their efforts to popularise the party. “Hassan made sure our efforts to popularise the party never took off. Even efforts to carry out youth elections were sabotaged”.
Following Hassan’s removal, the UDF parliamentary group also met and endorsed the NEC’s resolution to suspend Osman. The statement reads in part. “We would like to thank the party NEC for acting expeditiously on our petition against Hassan Osman, nominated UDF MP. We appreciate that the new national leadership now represents the face of Kenya”.
During the stormy parliamentary group meeting, sources say that speaker after speaker stated that Osman has turned rogue and had lost their confidence and support long time ago but they held their horses hoping he would reform his wayward ways of undermining the party.
The statement reads: “Hassan is not a grateful person. After being nominated on the strength of our being elected, he has chosen to abuse the privilege by insulting UDF members of parliament. Hassan brought no single seat to UDF yet he had embarked on killing the party”.
It was further revealed that Hassan has been incompetent and a saboteur to the extent that he never signed minutes of NEC for over two years yet he was the chairman. This is the main reason why the MPs were not satisfied with his removal alone, but demand that his nomination be recalled. The PG also sent warnings to other nominated leaders that their days were numbered.
One MP was quoted saying during the meeting that “Hassan is an extremely dishonest person. Not satisfied, with using his party position to win financial favours, we are aware that he was in the process of auctioning the party”.
The legislators also demanded that Omar accounts for the Sh13.5 nomination fees in the past election. They are now demanding that the party leadership to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure there is accountability and transparency.
“We know he has godfathers who have been funding his sabotage activities like bribing NEC members to skip meetings. We send warning to them; toe the party line or quit. We now want the party rebranding now that Hassan has attempted to block the kick off in earnest”.
Reads the statement: It has also been reported that Hassan had sabotaged NEC decisions despite chairing and participating in meetings that approved the same. It is further alleged that he had on several occasions gone against NEC approvals by refusing to sign minutes of NEC meetings without cause. They now say that this has delayed the implementation of NEC resolutions and consequently stalled party programmes.
“The restructuring and harmonising of party branches never kicked off despite NEC approval. For example the restructuring of Vihiga branch that was approved by NEC has not been implemented creating disharmony in the most important party stronghold”.
They claimed that Hassan had undermined NEC meetings and the confidence of members in the party leader through disinformation and outright lies to NEC members. He had been accused of mobilising NEC members to attend the Maanzoni Lodge with a view to sabotaging the retreat by lying to members that they were about to be replaced.
He also mobilised non-attendance by NEC of the Sentrim Retreat under false information the intention was to take over the party from its “founders” and that Hassan has continued to sabotage key decisions made by the various party organs which he has been party to.
It has been noted that Hassan chaired the MCAs retreat in Lamu that agreed to include MCAs in political council and NEC. However, he has acted in a manner suggesting that he was not party to the decision and created a wrong impression that the decision was made by the party leader. Even after NEC later approved the matter, Hassan has delayed the implementation of the same by delaying and/or refusing to sign minutes.
“The chairman has displayed disrespect, insubordination and contempt for the party leader through utterances and actions that undermine the office. He has constantly countermanded the party leader’s functions under articles 8.5.1 and 10.2(f)”.
Another thorny issue is that by consensus, Osman committed not to participate in the Political Parties Liaison Committee elections by assuring the party leader and the NEC had the support for the candidature of Petronila, the CEO. He instead went against such immense trust, connived and presented himself as a candidate. The party ended up having two candidates prompting compromising the party image and the party ability to win the strategic and important position.
“The above are deliberate acts of insubordination, untrustworthy and disrespectful conduct to undermine and impair the NEC, party leader and membership at the behest of external forces contrary to and in breach of rights and duties of members in Article 6; and abuse of office in the chairman’s responsibilities provided in Article 10.4".
Back to the new officials, a statement after Hassan was suspended reads in part “This list has been submitted and approved by the Registrar of Political Parties. Anyone not listed in this line-up should not act as UDF party official. This decision to change national officials has been a relief to that party. We have had to persevere with incompetence, insubordination, disrespect, insults and sabotage”.
The party is now preparing to embark on rebranding and restructuring in preparation for an NDC. Towards this end, party branches are instructed to beginning the process in earnest by filling vacant positions and cascading the same to sub-branches and wards.
On referendum, a statement from the party’s top organ said that UDF neither supports the grand standing of Cord nor intransigency of Jubilee on the matter of the referendum, but support the need for rationalised and funding of devolved government. This will be achieved at the National Constitutional Conference to audit the gaps in the implementation of the constitution with the view to isolating the issues that can be tackled through parliamentary initiative and those that would go to a referendum.
“This would ensure a national consensus on a wholesome review of the constitution instead of piecemeal changes. For us in UDF, we do not want competition that balkanizes the country,” said Kioni who is also the UDF deputy party leader.
During the meeting, it was the Lugari MP Ayub Savula who rose on a point of order requesting the meeting to postpone more presentations by facilitators to allow the meeting to discuss the conduct of the party chairman on various matters including incompetence, sabotage, disrespect and contempt for the party leader and undermining the party and its leadership through actions not limited to refusal to sign NEC minutes therefore compromising party activities.
Upon ventilation by members, the meeting agreed that the matter was of crucial importance and needed thorough discussion. The chairman, however, pleaded that those specific allegations be spelt out. It was then agreed that the matter be listed as a substantive agenda item after guest facilitations have finalised.
When the agenda came up later, the following were read out the allegations from members for the record.
These were:
That the chairman has sabotaged NEC decisions despite chairing and participating in meetings that approve the same. He has on several occasions gone against NEC approvals by refusing to sign minutes of NEC meetings without cause. This has delayed the implementation of NEC resolutions and consequently stalled party programmes. These include:
The rebranding of the party as approved by the NEC has stalled because of chairman unwillingness to sign relevant minutes/documents to kickstart the process.
The restructuring and harmonising of party branches never kicked off despite NEC approval. For example the restructuring of Vihiga branch that was approved by NEC has not been implemented creating disharmony in the most important party stronghold.
In response, the plenary was unanimous in support of the allegations as read out and in his reaction, the chairman; however, refused to respond to some issues read out saying the accusations were by “strangers” as derogatory statements were noted in the chairman’s responses.
The chairman claimed that accusations against him were “useless” as he was only answerable to “80 members who put me in this office”. The statement by the chairman was taken to mean he owned the party and other party members had no say in it.
A member wondered if the chairman meant even the party leader present had no say in party affairs. Plenary argued that any member of UDF had rights due to every member under the party constitution. The attitude of the chairman angered the plenary which called for disciplinary action against the chairman for arrogance, insulting and dismissive language and disrespecting attitude towards fellow party members and the meeting.
Plenary resolutions were read out and approved. Members demanded the signatures of the party leader and chairman be appended for purposes of a press release. Despite having raised no objection to the resolutions, the chairman refused to sign.
Pleas were made to the chairman to no avail. The heated session dragged into midnight with the chairman being accused of a history of sabotaging party decisions by refusing to sign documents. He was accused of using the signature to blackmail the party. It was only after a passionate plea by NEC member that the chairman assured members he will sign but to first the matter be left to privately consult the party leader with a few NEC/political council members.
To the utter shock and disbelief of participants and sponsors, the next morning sessions began with the announcement that the chairman had not only walked out on the party leader the previous night having not signed the resolutions as promised but had also abandoned the retreat and driven away at dawn.
Those who met him at night reported an intransigent chairman vowing never to sign and threatening to “teach a lesson” to some unnamed members. The plenary was appalled terming the chairman’s actions as unfaithful and deliberately intended to sabotage deliberations.
This prompted a member of the political council captain Mohammed to rise on a point of order requesting a motion of no confidence in the chairman. The motion for a resolution read; “Given the accusations levelled against the chairman, his deceptive responses and contempt for party leadership and members; a history of actions that sabotage party activities as recorded by the plenary; failing to initiate and constitute thereby usurping powers of party organs under Article 8; dishonesty and deception on party matters; and deceit in refusing to sign party organs’ resolutions and finally absconding today’s meeting; in total disregard thereby exhibiting illmotive and causing disrepute to the party contrary to duties and responsibilities bestowed on him under UDFP constitution 2013 Articles 6, 8.5, 9 and 10.4; members attending the NEC/PC meeting have lost faith and trust in his leadership and hereby pass a vote of no confidence in the chairman.
Further, members present appeal for a NEC/PG meeting under Article 8.5 sub-articles 8.5.1 “The party leader shall have oversight authority over the NEC” and 8.5.1(g) and 8.5.2(b) and 10.2(f) to discuss the conduct of the chairman with a view to cause recommendation for his suspension under sub-article 8.5.2(b) and (k) on grounds of gross misconduct, incompetence, insubordination, disrespect of party membership, organs and leadership, causing disaffection and sabotage of the proper functioning of the party”.
The members were unanimous that the chairman was in gross violation of party discipline under Article 12.1.2(b), (e) and (g). The resolution was seconded by Hassan Dukicha, MP Galole and unanimously passed for onward transmission for action by PG and NEC.
But even before the dust could settle, the Political Parties Dispute Resolution Tribunal reversed the decision to suspend Osman and executive officials terming the move as unprocedural and unlawful.
UDF top organ is now blaming Deputy President William Ruto as having influenced the tribunal to reverse the decision of the NEC. It has been whispered that Ruto’s game plan is to have Hassan and his group kick out Mudavadi and his deputy, former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and to render them party less.
Sources say it was through Ruto’s advice that Hassan set up a legal team led by lawyer Hassan Lakicha who moved under certificate of urgency and sued Mudavadi for failing to follow the laiddown procedures in the removal of the party’s chairman and executive committee members.
Investigations by Weekly Citizen now reveal that after the NEC meeting that purported to have suspended him, Hassan is said to have consulted widely including reaching out to Mudavadi’s political opponents. Last week, he and his team were busy setting up a new office after the Mudavadi group kicked them out.
Interestingly, Hassan could be unaware of the misfortune that the thin circle of former officials hovering around him early this month had secretly signed a petition for his removal. What is keeping them around is the hefty handouts whose source is unknown to them. But they are busy distancing themselves from his actions in droves.
Trouble for Osman began sometimes in March this year following a heated blamegame between Hassan and Senator Martha Wangari who is treasurer and the CEO Petronila Were over a raid at the UDF offices.
At the retreat in Naivasha, Hassan teamed up with Were in accusing the senator of organising the raid. However, in confessing, Martha instead accused Hassan of dishonesty because the chairman knew the property had been taken to the “owner” who turned out to be a former State House official.
Back to Omar’s sacking, the ransacking of the party property only formed part of the reasons he was shown the door. Documents in our possession reveal a plethora of accusations touching on Hassan’s integrity, lack of transparency and accountability in running party affairs, disrespect to other party leaders and MPs and sabotage of party activities.
It was revealed that the chairman had never signed NEC minutes that would prompt action by the secretariat for the last two years. This meant that no party programme takes off and therefore UDF had become moribund. Stories abound how he sabotaged the women from Mandera by ensuring they do not attend a sponsored training.
That things could get this bad in UDF and why they have been tolerated for so long beats reason, remarked, Roba Duba, UDF party whip who read the statement to the media disowning Hassan on behalf of MPs.
“Hassan Osman had lost our confidence and support long time ago but we held our horses hoping he would reform his fraudulent ways of undermining the party. He is the greediest, dishonest and untrustworthy fellow you can ever work with,” he said
What perhaps irked the party most was a letter that called MPs to whom Hassan owes his nomination busybodies, strangers and masqueraders in the party. In a press conference, Omar labelled decisions to rebrand the party as tribalism.
He also said he is opposed to delinking UDF from Jubilee cooperation agreement where he has been a most vociferous proponent to revoke it.
Many were shocked that a man who brought no votes and seats to UDF continues to throw insults at those who are his benefactors. UDF MPs also questioned his level of honesty when it emerged that he could be one of those claiming millions in false mileage thus soiling the name of the party.
Another ghost that has now returned to haunt Osman is a claim that he is unable and had blocked accounting for Sh13.5m in nominations fees.
On removal of Osman, Mudavadi chaired a meeting and a list of new party officials was released. This is the list that has been blocked by the Political Parties Dispute Resolution Tribunal.
The list comprises of Party leader Musalia Mudavadi, deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni, chairman Kassim Sawa, 1st deputy chairman Yare Mohammed, 2nd deputy chairperson Jane Marwa, secretary general Justus Kizito Mugalla, deputy secretary general George Nyamweya, treasurer Martha Wangari, deputy treasurer Ndiritu Muriithi, organising secretary Basil Mwakiringo, deputy organising secretary Naisiae Karia, Hassan Dukicha, chairman UDF party representatives group, Duba, chief whip of party representatives group. Women league leader, Beatrice Adagala, youth league leader, George Thuranira and chairman national election board, Abraham Limo.
Immediately the changes were made, Mudavadi reached out to his supporters to back the move and on the same evening, university students and UDF youth democrats from Vihiga county hurriedly called a press conference and issued a statement in support of the move.
The statement reads in part: “We take this opportunity to thank the UDF party leadership for the tremendous changes carried out to strengthen the party across the country. We are in solidarity with all Kenyans who have sighed relief at the exit of Hassan Osman”.
In the statement, the students said: “The UDF party belongs to members not a group or individual. Anyone imagining that UDF members will watch as their party is cannibalised is dreaming. Hassan has also no muscle to attempt a coup against our respected party leader Musalia Mudavadi”.
The students blamed Hassan for frustrating their efforts to popularise the party. “Hassan made sure our efforts to popularise the party never took off. Even efforts to carry out youth elections were sabotaged”.
Following Hassan’s removal, the UDF parliamentary group also met and endorsed the NEC’s resolution to suspend Osman. The statement reads in part. “We would like to thank the party NEC for acting expeditiously on our petition against Hassan Osman, nominated UDF MP. We appreciate that the new national leadership now represents the face of Kenya”.
During the stormy parliamentary group meeting, sources say that speaker after speaker stated that Osman has turned rogue and had lost their confidence and support long time ago but they held their horses hoping he would reform his wayward ways of undermining the party.
The statement reads: “Hassan is not a grateful person. After being nominated on the strength of our being elected, he has chosen to abuse the privilege by insulting UDF members of parliament. Hassan brought no single seat to UDF yet he had embarked on killing the party”.
It was further revealed that Hassan has been incompetent and a saboteur to the extent that he never signed minutes of NEC for over two years yet he was the chairman. This is the main reason why the MPs were not satisfied with his removal alone, but demand that his nomination be recalled. The PG also sent warnings to other nominated leaders that their days were numbered.
One MP was quoted saying during the meeting that “Hassan is an extremely dishonest person. Not satisfied, with using his party position to win financial favours, we are aware that he was in the process of auctioning the party”.
The legislators also demanded that Omar accounts for the Sh13.5 nomination fees in the past election. They are now demanding that the party leadership to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure there is accountability and transparency.
“We know he has godfathers who have been funding his sabotage activities like bribing NEC members to skip meetings. We send warning to them; toe the party line or quit. We now want the party rebranding now that Hassan has attempted to block the kick off in earnest”.
Reads the statement: It has also been reported that Hassan had sabotaged NEC decisions despite chairing and participating in meetings that approved the same. It is further alleged that he had on several occasions gone against NEC approvals by refusing to sign minutes of NEC meetings without cause. They now say that this has delayed the implementation of NEC resolutions and consequently stalled party programmes.
“The restructuring and harmonising of party branches never kicked off despite NEC approval. For example the restructuring of Vihiga branch that was approved by NEC has not been implemented creating disharmony in the most important party stronghold”.
They claimed that Hassan had undermined NEC meetings and the confidence of members in the party leader through disinformation and outright lies to NEC members. He had been accused of mobilising NEC members to attend the Maanzoni Lodge with a view to sabotaging the retreat by lying to members that they were about to be replaced.
He also mobilised non-attendance by NEC of the Sentrim Retreat under false information the intention was to take over the party from its “founders” and that Hassan has continued to sabotage key decisions made by the various party organs which he has been party to.
It has been noted that Hassan chaired the MCAs retreat in Lamu that agreed to include MCAs in political council and NEC. However, he has acted in a manner suggesting that he was not party to the decision and created a wrong impression that the decision was made by the party leader. Even after NEC later approved the matter, Hassan has delayed the implementation of the same by delaying and/or refusing to sign minutes.
“The chairman has displayed disrespect, insubordination and contempt for the party leader through utterances and actions that undermine the office. He has constantly countermanded the party leader’s functions under articles 8.5.1 and 10.2(f)”.
Another thorny issue is that by consensus, Osman committed not to participate in the Political Parties Liaison Committee elections by assuring the party leader and the NEC had the support for the candidature of Petronila, the CEO. He instead went against such immense trust, connived and presented himself as a candidate. The party ended up having two candidates prompting compromising the party image and the party ability to win the strategic and important position.
“The above are deliberate acts of insubordination, untrustworthy and disrespectful conduct to undermine and impair the NEC, party leader and membership at the behest of external forces contrary to and in breach of rights and duties of members in Article 6; and abuse of office in the chairman’s responsibilities provided in Article 10.4".
Back to the new officials, a statement after Hassan was suspended reads in part “This list has been submitted and approved by the Registrar of Political Parties. Anyone not listed in this line-up should not act as UDF party official. This decision to change national officials has been a relief to that party. We have had to persevere with incompetence, insubordination, disrespect, insults and sabotage”.
The party is now preparing to embark on rebranding and restructuring in preparation for an NDC. Towards this end, party branches are instructed to beginning the process in earnest by filling vacant positions and cascading the same to sub-branches and wards.
On referendum, a statement from the party’s top organ said that UDF neither supports the grand standing of Cord nor intransigency of Jubilee on the matter of the referendum, but support the need for rationalised and funding of devolved government. This will be achieved at the National Constitutional Conference to audit the gaps in the implementation of the constitution with the view to isolating the issues that can be tackled through parliamentary initiative and those that would go to a referendum.
“This would ensure a national consensus on a wholesome review of the constitution instead of piecemeal changes. For us in UDF, we do not want competition that balkanizes the country,” said Kioni who is also the UDF deputy party leader.
During the meeting, it was the Lugari MP Ayub Savula who rose on a point of order requesting the meeting to postpone more presentations by facilitators to allow the meeting to discuss the conduct of the party chairman on various matters including incompetence, sabotage, disrespect and contempt for the party leader and undermining the party and its leadership through actions not limited to refusal to sign NEC minutes therefore compromising party activities.
Upon ventilation by members, the meeting agreed that the matter was of crucial importance and needed thorough discussion. The chairman, however, pleaded that those specific allegations be spelt out. It was then agreed that the matter be listed as a substantive agenda item after guest facilitations have finalised.
When the agenda came up later, the following were read out the allegations from members for the record.
These were:
That the chairman has sabotaged NEC decisions despite chairing and participating in meetings that approve the same. He has on several occasions gone against NEC approvals by refusing to sign minutes of NEC meetings without cause. This has delayed the implementation of NEC resolutions and consequently stalled party programmes. These include:
The rebranding of the party as approved by the NEC has stalled because of chairman unwillingness to sign relevant minutes/documents to kickstart the process.
The restructuring and harmonising of party branches never kicked off despite NEC approval. For example the restructuring of Vihiga branch that was approved by NEC has not been implemented creating disharmony in the most important party stronghold.
In response, the plenary was unanimous in support of the allegations as read out and in his reaction, the chairman; however, refused to respond to some issues read out saying the accusations were by “strangers” as derogatory statements were noted in the chairman’s responses.
The chairman claimed that accusations against him were “useless” as he was only answerable to “80 members who put me in this office”. The statement by the chairman was taken to mean he owned the party and other party members had no say in it.
A member wondered if the chairman meant even the party leader present had no say in party affairs. Plenary argued that any member of UDF had rights due to every member under the party constitution. The attitude of the chairman angered the plenary which called for disciplinary action against the chairman for arrogance, insulting and dismissive language and disrespecting attitude towards fellow party members and the meeting.
Plenary resolutions were read out and approved. Members demanded the signatures of the party leader and chairman be appended for purposes of a press release. Despite having raised no objection to the resolutions, the chairman refused to sign.
Pleas were made to the chairman to no avail. The heated session dragged into midnight with the chairman being accused of a history of sabotaging party decisions by refusing to sign documents. He was accused of using the signature to blackmail the party. It was only after a passionate plea by NEC member that the chairman assured members he will sign but to first the matter be left to privately consult the party leader with a few NEC/political council members.
To the utter shock and disbelief of participants and sponsors, the next morning sessions began with the announcement that the chairman had not only walked out on the party leader the previous night having not signed the resolutions as promised but had also abandoned the retreat and driven away at dawn.
Those who met him at night reported an intransigent chairman vowing never to sign and threatening to “teach a lesson” to some unnamed members. The plenary was appalled terming the chairman’s actions as unfaithful and deliberately intended to sabotage deliberations.
This prompted a member of the political council captain Mohammed to rise on a point of order requesting a motion of no confidence in the chairman. The motion for a resolution read; “Given the accusations levelled against the chairman, his deceptive responses and contempt for party leadership and members; a history of actions that sabotage party activities as recorded by the plenary; failing to initiate and constitute thereby usurping powers of party organs under Article 8; dishonesty and deception on party matters; and deceit in refusing to sign party organs’ resolutions and finally absconding today’s meeting; in total disregard thereby exhibiting illmotive and causing disrepute to the party contrary to duties and responsibilities bestowed on him under UDFP constitution 2013 Articles 6, 8.5, 9 and 10.4; members attending the NEC/PC meeting have lost faith and trust in his leadership and hereby pass a vote of no confidence in the chairman.
Further, members present appeal for a NEC/PG meeting under Article 8.5 sub-articles 8.5.1 “The party leader shall have oversight authority over the NEC” and 8.5.1(g) and 8.5.2(b) and 10.2(f) to discuss the conduct of the chairman with a view to cause recommendation for his suspension under sub-article 8.5.2(b) and (k) on grounds of gross misconduct, incompetence, insubordination, disrespect of party membership, organs and leadership, causing disaffection and sabotage of the proper functioning of the party”.
The members were unanimous that the chairman was in gross violation of party discipline under Article 12.1.2(b), (e) and (g). The resolution was seconded by Hassan Dukicha, MP Galole and unanimously passed for onward transmission for action by PG and NEC.
CLAIMS MIGORI GOVERNOR BOUGHT KINGLY SH1.2M BED
Residents
of Migori county are up in arms against their county government for financial
impropriety, misuse of taxpayers’ money, corruption and embezzlement.
They
want the ongoings forensic auditing of the county government’s accounts and the
probe being undertaken by the Ethics and Anti Corruption sleuths to cast their
net wide to include investigation about claims that Migori governor Okoth Obado
bought a bed for Sh1.2 million without following the proper procurement
processes.
Furthermore,
the residents also want to know the source of Sh4 million which Governor
Obado is said to have spent while ferrying a delegation of 300 which visited
State House, Nairobi and tendered their apologies to President Uhuru Kenyatta
over an incident two weeks ago when hired goons heckled the governor and
interrupted a presidential function during Uhuru’s tour of the region on
an official mission to launch development projects in the area.
It
has now emerged that while the Migori delegation of 300 people were still
waiting at the Uhuru Park, Nairobi for the confirmation of their appointment
with the president at State House, the word of the appointment and their
presence at Uhuru Park went around
Nairobi and political goons usually idling in the city streets and
job-seekers joined swelling the
delegation to 600.
Other
reports claim that Obado paid the delegation Sh7,000 for two days per
diem, after the amount was beefed up with Sh500,000 which was coughed out by
Nairobi governor Evans Kidero. Each of the delegates was paid another
Sh750 which was brought by the presidential political adviser Joshua Kutuny. He
brought Sh1 million from Uhuru for the delegates to pay for their night
accommodation so that he would meet them the next day. But the majority of the
delegates preferred to keep their money and spent the night inside the buses
that had ferried them from Migori to Nairobi braving the chilly city night.
Only
a handful booked themselves in the city hotels for accommodation. At the end of
the meeting the president dished out another Sh1,500 to each member of the
delegation.
The
other complaints raised by the delegation is that while the ordinary member of
the team was paid Sh7,000 as allowance for two days outing,
Governor Obado made another special allowances payment of Sh40,000 to each
member of the county executives.
Speaking
in Migori town, Kakamega senator Bonny
Khalwale who is the chairman of the Senate Public Accounts and Investment
Committee disclosed that his committee has already summoned governor Obado
to appear before its members and explain several issues contained in the
government audit report including that of him allegedly purchasing a family bed
worth Sh1.2million while using the public money without following the
procurement processes.
Other
unconfirmed report currently going on in the public within Migori is that
governor Obado is currently constructing a multi-million double storey palatial
house with 38 rooms in his rural Rapogi home. His personal assistant Caspal
Obiero who is mentioned adversely in the audit report for having withdrawn
unexplained Sh16 million is also building another palatial house at his Ombo
Kokelo rural home in Central Kanyamkago location, Uriri district.
The
report also contained the startling
claims that the Migori county government made a down payment of Sh15.3 million
to Kericho Toyota Motor for the purchase of two Land Cruisers ambulances, but
six months down the line, the vehicles have yet to be delivered to the county
government, and fears persist that the deal could turn out to be another
phantom as the ambulances may not be delivered at all to county made that down
payment to the tune of Sh15.3.
Governor
Obado is said to have recently acquired two new tractors for his personal use,
and the residents wanted the source of these tractors also investigated so as
to ascertain whether they were bought with the county government money or by
his own finances.
The
audit report, a copy of which is securely in our hands, also unearthed that the
Migori county made irregular payment for Sh10 million for the purchase
tractors, motor cycles without following the laiddown procurement processes.
The
county government also paid Sh7.9 million to Amaco Assurance Company. This
company single sourced and the deal was therefore not competitive as required
by the procurement laws and regulations that require due diligence in this
case.
On
the issues of travelling expenses, and allowances paid to the delegation that
visited Nairobi, Obado insisted that some of the delegation paid for their own
transport and that the money was contributed by friends and wellwishers.
However, judging by the strength of the majority of Migori town business
community, one would come to a conclusion that the traders there do not have
capacity of parting with Sh4million which included hiring and fueling several
buses from Migori to Nairobi therefore.
AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON GATUNDU CDF SMELLS
The damning report by the Auditor General for the 2012-2013 financial year has revealed massive irregularities in the management of CDF cash countrywide.
In Githunguri constituency, the CDF was allocated money for the construction of a laboratory at Nyaga Secondary School. But according to the report, records for 2012/2013 financial year at the CDF’s office revealed that a contractor was awarded the construction of the laboratory at a contract sum of Sh2,987,750. However, no approved building plans and bills of quantities were availed for audit verification and the works were not done as per the draft plans.
In addition, the completion certificates at specific predetermined stages of the works, inspection and acceptance reports and resolutions for withdrawing funds from the CDF account were also not availed for audit verification.
Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh2,987,750 during the year ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed.
The report further revealed that an ambulance for Githunguri Health Centre was procured at a cost of Sh3.4million without pre-delivery mechanical inspection on the vehicle by the chief mechanical and transport engineer before it was bought as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations, 2006.
Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh3.4m during the year and which ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed. It has also been noted that a project supervision and implementation services were outsourced from a consultancy firm and Sh1,776,600 was paid during the year under audit. However, no reason was given as to why officers from the ministry of Public Works and other government agencies could not supervise the work. The basis of arriving at the fee was not given. In addition, resolutions for withdrawing funds from the CDF account were not availed for audit verification.
In Limuru constituency, examination of records for 2012/2013 maintained at the CDF office revealed that Sh10.5m was allocated to different schools for supply of materials and labour. However, documents availed for audit review indicated that only Sh8,146,379 was spent on the projects resulting in unexplained difference of Sh2,353,621. Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh10.5milluion during the year ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed.
In Kikuyu constituency, the report has established that the proposed completion of Gikambura Health Centre Phase II was contracted at a sum of Sh5,910,050. However tough, physical verification of the works show that the first floor of the project was still incomplete and the site was not fenced off to secure it from break-ins and vandalism. In addition, the project manager gave a certificate of practical completion which was not supported by bill of quantities for phase II of the project.
In Githunguri constituency, the CDF was allocated money for the construction of a laboratory at Nyaga Secondary School. But according to the report, records for 2012/2013 financial year at the CDF’s office revealed that a contractor was awarded the construction of the laboratory at a contract sum of Sh2,987,750. However, no approved building plans and bills of quantities were availed for audit verification and the works were not done as per the draft plans.
In addition, the completion certificates at specific predetermined stages of the works, inspection and acceptance reports and resolutions for withdrawing funds from the CDF account were also not availed for audit verification.
Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh2,987,750 during the year ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed.
The report further revealed that an ambulance for Githunguri Health Centre was procured at a cost of Sh3.4million without pre-delivery mechanical inspection on the vehicle by the chief mechanical and transport engineer before it was bought as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations, 2006.
Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh3.4m during the year and which ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed. It has also been noted that a project supervision and implementation services were outsourced from a consultancy firm and Sh1,776,600 was paid during the year under audit. However, no reason was given as to why officers from the ministry of Public Works and other government agencies could not supervise the work. The basis of arriving at the fee was not given. In addition, resolutions for withdrawing funds from the CDF account were not availed for audit verification.
In Limuru constituency, examination of records for 2012/2013 maintained at the CDF office revealed that Sh10.5m was allocated to different schools for supply of materials and labour. However, documents availed for audit review indicated that only Sh8,146,379 was spent on the projects resulting in unexplained difference of Sh2,353,621. Under the circumstances, the propriety of the expenditure amounting to Sh10.5milluion during the year ended June 30 2013 could not be confirmed.
In Kikuyu constituency, the report has established that the proposed completion of Gikambura Health Centre Phase II was contracted at a sum of Sh5,910,050. However tough, physical verification of the works show that the first floor of the project was still incomplete and the site was not fenced off to secure it from break-ins and vandalism. In addition, the project manager gave a certificate of practical completion which was not supported by bill of quantities for phase II of the project.
KISUMU RESIDENTS ASK GOVERNMENT TO SAVE THEM FROM GOVERNOR
Kisumu
governor Jack Ranguma has been challenged to come out clean and explain the
reason why his assembly is spending Sh800 million on the construction of
new assembly headquarters, yet Sh11.9 million was used to renovate its premises
barely 10 months ago.
The
residents view the project’s cost as excessively exaggerated and inflated for
the sole purpose of creating room for kick-backs. The project cost, the
residents said, was originally projected to cost only Sh250 million and the
residents are now wondering how the cost skyrocketed.
The
residents are also questioning the system used in awarding the project tender
to the contractor, which they said was single sourced contrary to the
procurement regulations which demand due diligence.
They
have called upon the government to intervene and stop the project and involve
experts from the Works ministry. Rumour doing rounds in Kisumu and its environs
has it that the project’s tender was done singlehandedly by the assembly
speaker.
Other
complaints have surfaced with claims that MCAs who were inherited
from the corruption-ridden defunct Kisumu municipal council are the ones who
have ganged up and are misinforming the governor and his new team on how to go
on with financial impropriety and embezzlement of the public funds. The
ex-councillors have formed a powerful cartel of brokers whose activities are
meant to fleece the county government through procurement the same way they did
during their days as elected councillors.
Other
sources say by inflating the cost of the construction, the MCAs are calculating
to make a kill. At the same time they are said to have already budgeted for the
purchase of cars and other luxurious items.
A
cross section of Kisumu residents have appealed to the government to cancel the
tender and call it afresh with the involvement of the Works ministry getting to
the bottom and unearthing the rot in
the entire exercise. They said the
government must put tight barriers over its money and ensure it is utilised properly
for the interest of its citizens.
Other
residents were heard murmuring that the devolution system of government has
created room for the overnight millionaires and billionaires as the taxpayers
money is being channeled to wrong priorities, which only benefit individuals
and not the public.
The
construction of Kisumu county assembly should not be a priority because the
county government is able to carry its day-to-day business in the existing
premises without any problem, they feel. They say those rushing the project had
the ulterior motive of corruptly ripping off the government through projects
that were not a priority but to create loopholes to steal. The governmentm, they said, must
put in place safeguards on taxpayers’ money from greedy MCAs.
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