WAMBORA WAR WITHY REPS ERUPTS AGAIN

Embu county assembly members are not yet done with Governor Martin Wambora whom they had impeached twice but survived and who is now serving thanks to the Supreme Court.

Sources now say that there have been attempts by the executive to compromise auditors. Wambora and Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire have been engaging in bitter exchange of words. Mbarire is in a camp allied to National Speaker Justin Muturi. The auditors have been in the county for the last two months.

It has been alleged that the executive is trying to bribe government auditors with Sh10 million to clear its name from corrupt deals. To fire the first salvo was Peter Makenge of the assembly’s public accounts and investment committee.

Makenge’s allegations were supported by Kiambere ward representative Martin Mwangi and his Muminji counterpart Newton Kariuki. They claim that the auditors have unearthed corrupt procurement deals and Wambora and his executive are said to be running up and down to bribe the auditors.

“Evil spirits are about to visit Embu again. Speaker, there are very serious procurement queries here. People are struggling to bribe auditors upto Sh10 million to cover audit queries about to be tabled in this assembly. Something needs to be done,” he said.

Last week, Mbarire who is a sworn enemy to Wambora and his administration called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate  bribery allegations and to bring to book those behind the move. The Embu county assembly speaker Kariuki Mate has also said that the bribery claims should be investigated for Kenyans to know the truth.

But Wambora in a quick rejoinder has dismissed the allegations and has challenged anyone with evidence to launch a formal complaint. He said the Auditor General has finalised an audit into the Embu county government’s accounts which started two months ago and that his administration has nothing to hide as the auditors were given all necessary documents.

“These corruption claims by an Embu politician that the accounts of the executive, the county assembly and the county public service board had been compromised are unfounded,” Wambora said.

But even as Wambora continues to defend his administration against bribery claims, last week, the deputy Auditor General John Kagondu stormed the Embu county offices and collected documents including copies of Hansard reports. He is said to have come to investigate the Sh10 million bribery claims. Wambora is however said to be having the last laugh after the auditors gave Embu county a clean bill of health.