Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga's office responded to queries made by Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, June 7 after allegations surfaced of a graft scandal involving Rasanga and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo.
Prominent blogger Dennis Owino, better known as Kinyanboy, had sensationally claimed involvement in a project that saw a group from a Western nation commit to upgrade healthcare across Siaya County.
Owino alleged that the group offered a grant worth Ksh500 million, but implementation of the project was frustrated by Rasanga and Odhiambo who demanded kickbacks.
Rasanga was accused of frustrating the project despite the well documented need to improve healthcare infrastructure in the county.
The blogger also alleged that Siaya Senator James Orengo was aware of the proposed project, although he failed to divulge details of his role.
"If you’re from Siaya, call Rasanga , Elisha Odhiambo (whom we were with in constant communication) and ask why they frustrated and stopped the grant’s implementation.
"You can also call Senator Orengo. They all know the answers. We worked hard to implement this, it was sabotaged," he wrote.
Siaya County Director of Communications Jerry Williams Ochieng' told Kenyans.co.ke that the Governor could not be drawn into the allegations which remain unsubstantiated.
He challenged Owino to provide clear information and evidence of the alleged scandal to merit a response, terming them baseless.
"What I can tell you is we are not aware of the grant or scandal he is talking about. I would ask him to offer details, locations of this project.
"Where was it? Ugunja? Ugenya? We cannot comment on such allegations which are unsubstantiated," he stated.
Owino, who promised to reveal more details of the alleged scandal, was yet to respond to queries made by Kenyans.co.ke by the time of publication.
The allegations came a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta used Siaya County as an example of ill-preparedness for Covid-19 in his speech.
While delivering his speech at State House, Nairobi on various government restrictions, he observed that many county's healthcare systems could easily be overwhelmed.
"Siaya, for instance, has a 10-bed isolation facility. Busia county has a 34-bed isolation facility that was full two days ago…If there is a surge in infections in the counties, the health care system will be overwhelmed. Are Kenyans ready to nurse Covid-19 patients at home?" he posed.
