July 21, 2014

Members of assembly from Kakamega County have raised concerns over just concluded National Police Service recruitment exercise saying it was flawed and they have petitioned the chairman of National Police service commission (NPSC) Johnstone Kavuludi.

They are seeking to have the whole process repeated in disputed regions.

“We will petition the chairman of NPSC Mr. Kavuludi and seek the process to be repeated in this county due to irregularities witnessed during the recruitment process. Even if it’s not repeated, future recruitment exercise should be transparent to ensure deserving youth are given opportunities to serve this country,” observed Kakamega county speaker Morris Buluma.

Raising on matters of county importance, West Kabras ward county representative Edward Indimuli claimed process was marred with irregularities, corruption and favoritism and cannot stand the test of transparency and impartiality.

“Apart from Khwisero and some parts of Lurambi, the recruitment exercise in the remaining sub counties was just a formality. It seems some people had already been selected as those who had performed distinctively well in academics, physically fitness and with a clean medical report were left out,” said Indimuli.

He singled out Malava Sub County, where the process was flawed with violence as residents demonstrated over nepotism, corruption and tribalism.

He explained that there was a suspicious list with names of twelve candidates from a “marginalized” communities a matter that led to protests and accusations of favoritism from residents and candidates alike.

“Like Kakamega North, there were 21 slots for grabs but 17 slots had already been filled before the recruitment even started. This created tension as residents nearly lynched the deputy county commissioner, he had to flee for his life. There are no marginalized communities in Malava” said Indimuli.

Mbongi who was the Chair for the Recruitment Board in Malava sub-county, admitted that he had the controversial list and faulted the County Administration saying they interfered with a government process yet he was merely dispensing orders from above.

 “I and the OCPD have a letter from Police dictating that we reserve four out of twenty one slots for minority community in this Sub-County, it’s anew directive that they ought to understand,” Mbongi said.

 “We ask the national police service commission to cancel out the concluded process and repeat the whole exercise to ensure deserving youth are given the rightful opportunities to serve their country,” said Alex Khamasi, a nominated MCA representing the youth.

The MCAs questioned the unusual time taken during the exercise and observed that it created suspicion among residents across the county as the exercise extended to wee hours of the morning.

“In most of other counties, the exercise was conclude before 6pm but here in Kakamega it extended to 2am.Its beat logic for recruitment exercise to go beyond midnight. What were the recruitment team doing all this time?” posed Shinyalu central ward county representative Richard Muchesia.

 “Most of the youths were being asked to pay between sh100, 000 to sh150, 000 for them to be recruited. Where do you expect this poor people who cannot afford three meals a day to get that amount of money?” asked Titus Kwoma Chekalini ward county representative.

…ENDS…

July 22, 2014

A middle aged man escaped death by a whisker after he was allegedly nabbed with a stolen cockrel in Mumabanga village Butere Sub County yesterday morning.

The suspect was saved by police from the jaws of an agitated mob which had doused him in petrol and ready to set him ablaze.

The 21-years-old Haggai Odera, is said to have stolen Sarah Otundo’s rooster while she was in the kitchen cooking on Monday night and he was on his way to sell it in the neighbouring market when he was nabbed.

“As cane cutters, we usually wake up very early in the morning to field and on our way, we met this young man with a rooster. After questioning him because we wondered why such a young chap was doing with a cock that early, he threw the bird in a sugar cane planation and tried to escape but we gave a chase and caught him,” Said Opondo Komolo, a witness.

“We searched for the cokrel, found it and we were taking him to the area assistant chief’s office when we met with other residents who attacked him claiming he is a notorious petty chief who vanishes with everything he meets. He was beaten and was about to be set ablaze when police on patrol rescued him.”

Mutoma sub location assistant chief Mary Munyanya said he alerted the police after she feared the suspect may be lynched.

She noted that the suspect is a notorious thief but they have been unable to arrest him because he has never been caught in the act or with exhibit.

“I have received reports many times from people claiming that the suspect has stolen from them but because we can only arrest when we get him in the act or with a stolen property, we have been unable to prove anything until yesterday,” explained Munyanya.

Confirming the incident, Butere OCPD Josephine Ngetich said the suspect will be arraigned in court and charged with theft and handling stolen property.

He warned the public to refrain from lynching suspects saying its only court of law that is constitutionally allowed to declare someone guilty.

“The suspect was beaten and has been taken to Butere Sub county Hospital for treatment under security. He will be taken to court once he is discharged from the hospital,” said Ngetich

…ENDS…

July 22, 2014

Members of county assembly from Western Kenya have criticized the move by three constitutional bodies to regulate their expenditure over reports of wasteful spending as unconstitutional and unnecessary hurdles to derail implementation of devolution.

The members said the Salaries and remuneration Commission (SRC), Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and controller of Budgets (COB) lacks mandate to control the county assembly on how they should spend funds allocated to them.

Vihiga county assembly speaker Dan Chitwa, Busia County Majority Assembly Leader Josphat Wandera, Bungoma County assembly speaker John Makali and Kakamega county assembly minority leader Marachi Kwoma said the commissions are determined to portray MCAs in negative light by creating an impression that they are squandering public funds.

“There has never been wasteful spending. The controller of budgets authorizes all spending of county assembly, so any money spend by MCAs is approved as stated by the law,” said Chitwa.

He wondered why SRC is in the forefront castigating the MCAs of wasteful spending and drawing unlawful allowances when it’s the same commission that sets the benefits and allowances as stated in the constitution.

 “The comments by Mrs. Serem is a double speak because her commission is constitutionally mandated to set benefits and allowances and what MCAs are drawing is in accordance to what SRC mandated,” said Chitwa and observed that the commissions are used by national government to fight devolution.

“I suspect commissions are no longer independent but rather mercenaries of the state to attack devolution. Their maneuvers are going to fail.”

Wandera on the other hand said SRC has lost direction and does not know where its mandate ends as a constitutional body.

He explained that all expenditures and allocation by county assemblies are approved by controller of budgets and said MCAs have no power to allocate themselves allowances.

“They want to create panic among Kenyans to gain support against devolution. I wonder why the SRC is only focused on county assemblies while the senate and national assembly are the greatest spenders with so many allowances and foreign travels. It’s a war against devolution,” said Wandera.

Makali said the assemblies have never received an audit report or advisory from the commissions at the end of the financial year advising them on how they spend or how they should spend the money allocated.

He said every money spend by county assemblies is captured in the budgets that are approved by the controller of budgets and accused the commissions of sensationalizing MCAs to fight devolution.

“Every coin spend by MCAs is captured in the budget approved by controller of budgets. Whenever money is returned to the treasury, they complain, when money is spend they complain, I wonder what they really want. I sense a sinister motive in all these,” said Makali

Kakamega County assembly minority leader Marachi Kuoma said the commission are hypocritical in their reports and observed that if there was evidence of wasteful funding or unconstitutional allocation of allowances by MCAs, they should take the culprits to court.

“Like the case of foreign trips, they are usually for benchmarking, no MCAs goes for this visits to dine and have fun. What of the allowances that members of this commission draw from taxpayer’s money. Why are they paid allowances for doing the work they were employed to do?” posed Kuoma.

Last week, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Henry Rotich said the treasury has engaged with SRC, COB and CRA to curb wasteful spending of public funds in counties.

..Ends…