Embu MCAs declare total war on Wambora after reshuffle – Weekly Citizen

MCAs in Embu are at war with Governor Martin Wambora’s declared move to reshuffle senior officers in his administration to bring home sanity.

Weekly Citizen has established that to tame Wambora, the MCAs have proposed a number of radical steps, among them, paralysing the revenue collection base which is the backbone.

They have resolved to invite the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Director of Public Prosecutions to probe chief officers Ruth Ndirangu and Jane Ndegi over documented cases of misuse of public funds amounting to Sh300 million.

It is claimed that Ndirangu, acting as the chief officer for finance, irregularly made payment of Sh60 million for the acquisition of parcels of land in Mwea Settlement Scheme, namely, parcel no 4531 in which Sh23 million was paid to Njeru Ithiga and Co Advocates and parcel no 4045 in which Sh37 million was paid to Njue and Co Advocates.

DCI Kinoti

Documents in our possession further reveal that Ndirangu irregularly paid Sh22 million in cash to three officers for land demarcation in Mwea Settlement Scheme contrary to public finance management Act and the constitution, and operated an secret bank account for Runyenjes Level 4 Hospital contrary to section 153 of the public finance management Act where she was a signatory as the accountant, a matter that was disclosed by the county assembly public accounts and investment committee.

Weekly Citizen has further information that she failed to pay pending bills for the county assembly amounting to Sh22 million contrary to public finance management Act and accumulated pending bills worth Sh1.4 billion.

Another controversy surrounds the implementation and approval budget on E-Revenue system despite having paid over Sh143 million to three firms and then failed to submit reports to the county treasury and assembly contrary to public finance management Act.

On the other hand, as chief officer in the gender, culture, children and social services docket, Ndegi failed to account for Sh15 million meant for women empowerment fund in the 2017/2018 financial year.

Wambora

She never gave performance reports which are also contrary to public finance management Act and using her office solicited for funds from members of the public meant for Embu Women Sacco that was not accounted for.

The MCAs are against the transfer of Michael Ngoroi from the infrastructure and public works to lands, physical planning, housing and urban development department since he was asked to step aside. Mercy Wanja rejection is based on qualification and experience to occupy the department of infrastructure, contrary to the county governments Act, 2012.

Embu county MCAs say the three chief officers are unfit to hold dockets as they are corrupt, incompetence, abuse of offices and failure to file reports to the assembly to account for their spending of public funds.

Wambora in a circular dated October 25 2019 reappointed the officers to the plum dockets. Weekly Citizen has established Wambora is at war with former chief of staff whom he moved during the shuffle.