Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has stated that she is ready to cooperate with authorities regarding a fresh scandal she has been roped in.
In a statement shared with Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, April 12, the county boss disclosed that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) sleuths were welcome to the county noting that her office had received accolades for an excellent performance.
Earlier, EACC had disclosed that it was looking into Kirinyaga County Assembly as well as the Office of the Governor over irregularities in awarding tenders and allowances amounting to Ksh50 million.
"I sincerely and most gladly welcome EACC or any other independent investigative organ to Kirinyaga County to probe any malfeasance at the executive and at the County Assembly.
"I have repeatedly said that independent investigations is the only objective means of establishing fault. Partisan MCAs or other persons pushing political agendas for their masters must not be allowed to detract those in leadership from implementing their mandate. This is true of Kirinyaga as is of any other county," stated Waiguru.
She further pointed out that investigations were good for the county because they would reveal the culprits notorious of abusing their officers.
"These independent and objective investigations will reveal where integrity at the County is abused and who has abused their offices.
"For the record, my office has received objective commendations for excellence in procurement and implementation from the Public Procurement and Regulations Authority and was ranked number three in procurement compliance among all the other counties in the most recent review," she added.
She also noted that her government was concerned with curbing the spread of Covid-19 which has since crippled the economy and rendered many people jobless.
"For the county government, we remain focused on the preventive measures against the spread of corvid 19," she affirmed.
EACC Central Region Manager Charles Rasugu, in a statement, stated that the county had allegedly lost the funds through irregular payments of allowances for foreign trips and tenders.
Under investigations is also a former speaker of the county assembly who the authority accused of releasing the allowances illegally.
“It is said the acting speaker was involved in transactions he had no powers to conduct. We will read the laws on the powers of an acting speaker.
“The reports came when we had scaled down our operations due to Coronavirus. We cannot go to Kirinyaga to get the files. We are reviewing the reports and will act accordingly,” stated Rasungu.
