Kirinyaga residents are up in arms against their Members of County Assembly who they accuse of engaging in luxurious spending.
They particularly took issue with the MCAs for approving the purchase of two luxurious commuter vehicles worth more than Sh15.5 million which they used to travel to Tanzania for a seven-day tour.
The brand new commuter vehicles, a 32 seater-bus and a Nissan van, were bought early this year.
The two vehicles were recently used to ferry the MCAs to Arusha for an education tour.
A senior county assembly official who sought anonymity citing sensitivity of the matter confirmed that the vehicles were bought abroad and brought to the county for use.
“It is true the vehicles were purchased and are meant to strictly be used by the ward representatives when going for tours,” the official said.
The Nairobi News has learnt that the MCAS left for Arusha on Friday last week and would return this week.
BRIEF RECESS
Contacted for comment, the Speaker, who accompanied the MCAs, replied through a text message: “We are on a brief recess.”
A spot check established that indeed the Speaker and all the MCAS were absent from the Assembly.
The residents accused their representatives of going on a spending spree at the expense of development.
“They should not have used the taxpayers to purchase the vehicles. This is a waste of resources,” said a resident, Mr Peter Mugo.
The residents wondered why the MCAs travelled to the neighbouring country to benchmark yet it has no devolution system of government.
“This is unbelievable and they should be surcharged,” said Mr Mugo.
AUDITORS
The residents called on Auditor General to send his team of auditors to investigate the ward reps.
“They went to the foreign country to misuse taxpayers’ money and they should be forced to pay up when they return home,” said Ms Njeri Mwai.
The residents vowed that they will send all the MCAs home in 2017 over what they termed as unnecessary spending.
“These political leaders are more of a burden to us and we must vote them out next year,” added Ms Njeri.
They noted that since the MCAs were elected in 2013, they have been wallowing in luxurious lifestyles.
They have already travelled to China, Rwanda, Morocco,Malaysia, Singapore and now they are in Tanzania.
Source-nairobinews.nation.co.ke
Fury As MCAs Spend Sh15m On Luxurious Brief Recess In Tanzania
