Siaya MCAs grilled by EACC over Sh7million fraud

Siaya Members of the County Assembly on Tuesday began recording statements with the anti-graft agency probing alleged fictitious claims amounting to Sh7.2 million.

The MCAs were summoned in connection to a trip to Uganda earlier this year, where they have been accused of pocketing Sh200,000 each.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) summoned the MCAs together with Speaker George Okode to record statements.

The EACC is now inquiring into the matter to establish whether the legislators lied that they went to Uganda for the trip and got payment.

The detectives are also investigating if they had their passports stamped at the border to conceal the fraud.

For grilling

In a letter dated July 31 and addressed to Clerk Eric Ogenga, the EACC regional manager Ignatius Wekesa summoned the county legislators for grilling.

“Kindly facilitate the following honourable members to attend interviews/ statements recording on the dates and times stipulated,” stated Wekesa in his letter written on behalf of the commission’s Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak.

The questioning including of Assembly staff was scheduled between last Tuesday and August 27.

“Kindly inform them to carry along their original and/or travel documents used on the day of the trip,” Wekesa instructed.

Two months ago, three petitioners wrote to the EACC requesting them to investigate suspicious activities within the Assembly.

The petitioners under the umbrella group, the Siaya County Accountability Network (SCAN) in the letter by three people namely; John Ouma, James Wanga and Irene Atieno, urged the commission to probe several allegations on the irregular procurement, misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds by the assembly.