Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok has written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over payments worth Sh685 million by the Nairobi County Government.
The MCA accuses the Ann Kananu-led county of engaging in corruption by giving tenders to and paying firms connected to MCAs or staffers of the Nairobi County Government disregarding conflict of interest.
Imwatok through a letter dated April 26, proves that the payments are being made after January 15th when Kananu was already in charge after impeachment of Mike Sonko.
Imwatok says that the companies receiving the payments are big and well-connected, with some being proxies to MCAs or staffers of the County government.
Some of the companies are recorded to have undertaken works or supplies in the environment department or supplied food to the County for purposes of distribution to the public to cushion them during the existing COVID-19 pandemic.
The two departments were however transferred from the County government to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
“Issues environment are part of the functions that were transferred to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and the County should at no one point be seen to be preparing to pay and/or even pay for any such services as this would be against the Deed of Transfer,” says Imwatok.
According to Imwatok, no food was ever supplied to the County and no food was ever distributed to the said public.
“It is absurd that tax payer’s money amounting to over 275 million shall be paid to companies belonging to Members of County Assembly or their proxies for either services and/or goods that were never supplied,” adds Imwatok.
“They have also been heard bragging how they have connections at the EACC and that they are untouchables.”
In a separate letter, Imwatok has raised alarm over payments made to lawyers and legal firms amounting to over Ksh410 million in 2021 alone.
Among the law firms in question include Prof Tom Ojienda & Associates, Miller & Co. Advocates, and Letangule & Co. Advocates among others.
Below is a list of the law firms and the dates of payments.
“It is instructive to note that these monies were all paid immediately after the removal from
office by way of impeachment of Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko. Further, it is not lost on us
that some of the Advocates mentioned in the list hereinabove were the defenders of Mike
Sonko both at the County Assembly and the Senate,” adds Imwatok.
Imwatok has given EACC 48 hours to take up the case or instruct his lawyers to seek “appropriate legal remedy”.
