Former Nairobi Education Executive Committee (CEC) Janet Ouko has issued a response to allegations of corruption and embezzlement levelled against her by the Nairobi Single Mothers lobby group on Monday, February 26.
Ouko speaking to Kenyans.co.ke accused Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of using the women to divert attention from his controversial feeding program.
She alleged that the governor was using the single mothers to tarnish her reputation while promoting the feeding programme, which involves students paying Ksh5 per day for meals.
"We are facing tough economic times and it is easy for Sakaja to give the women Ksh1,000 to utter such allegations," she remarked adding that this was also a misuse of public funds.
Ouko urged Sakaja to come clean on his program which will cost billions to sustain during his tenure. She also asked the governor to focus on making education free before offering cheap meals.
Her remarks came after the lobby group, chaired by Hadijja Muhia, accused her of misappropriating funds set aside for bursaries.
The group claimed that during her tenure, the former county official engaged in corruption and misconduct. They insisted on her refunding the money purportedly embezzled from the public coffers.
In 2019, Ouko resigned as CEC after the former governor Mike Sonko exposed the bursary allegations. She was later reappointed by Sonko's successor Anne Kananu.
The group also poked holes at her reappointment to the county without going through the set procedure. Hadijja Muhia argued that since Ouko was not properly reinstated, she was receiving her salary irregularly.
"We cannot tolerate corruption and misconduct in our government institutions, especially when it affects the most vulnerable members of our society. Ouko’s actions betray the trust of the people of Nairobi and jeopardize the future of our children," she added.
Besides the alleged corruption the lobby group questioned why the former official was opposing Governor Sakaja's Dishi na County program.
They argued that Ouko's opposition to the program raised more questions about her interest in the feeding program.
Some revealed that while working for the county, Ouko started a similar program to supply food to students across the county and Sakaja's initiative had interfered with business.
This group called for prompt investigations into the said allegations to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
