Kitui County Assembly Clerk Elijah Mutambuki is on the spot over allegations of abuse of office, corrupt practices and nepotism.
The Leader of Minority John Kisangau today accused Mutambuki of awarding tenders to relatives and irregular hiring of a Public Finance Officer (PFO).
“A relative to the assembly clerk was awarded a tender worth SH. 800,000 to plant flowers and grass in the county assembly grounds in total disregard for procurement laws,” the Ward Rep told journalists in his office.
“A Public Finance Officer was recruited without substantive qualification and relevant papers. The appointment was queried by the office of the auditor general but was ignored by the county assembly service board,” added Kisangau.
The Yatta/Kwa Vonza Ward MCA further alleged fraudulent inflation of project costs for the newly-constructed ultra-modern assembly chambers from the initial Sh.296 million to Sh.368 million.
“The chamber is the most expensive single project in Kitui County. Besides, necessary features like public toilets, MCAs lounge and a lift to assist the disabled to access the public and speaker’s gallery were omitted from the initial BQ but the monies were embezzled,” he said.
Mutambuki was also accused of locking the MCAs car loan and mortgage funds in a fixed deposit account contrary to provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.
The Minority Leader called on the office of the Auditor General and the EACC to probe the alleged graft rocking the county assembly to necessitate arrest and prosecution of those found culpable.
“I also call for immediate resignation of the Assembly Clerk to pave way for smooth probe of the rot that has engulfed this honorable house,” noted the ward rep.
Efforts to reach Mr Mutambuki to respond to the corruption allegations bore no fruits as calls to his phone went unanswered.