DC on the spot for collecting money for Kenya@50

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

NYAMIRA, KENYA: Provincial administrators in Nyamira County are on the spot after they began collecting what residents say are illegal monies ostensibly for the Kenya @50 celebrations.

Thousands of homesteads on the county’s Borabu sub-county have already received letters from area DC asking them to donate Sh1000 each towards Thursday’s event.

The families have received letters from the office of the Deputy County Commissioner F.K Ndambuki to send the money to his office latest by today.

One such example is a letter written to the residents of Nyansiongo Division bearing the letterhead of the ministry of Interior and signed by senior chief Mongare Masaki on behalf of Ndambuki and dated December 5.

“Please donate Sh1, 000 towards Jamhuri Day celebrations. We will appreciate if you send your donations to the Deputy County Commissioner’s office latest by 10/12/2013,” read part of the letter.

Residents who had received the letters said they had been given a deadline of today at 10 am to forward their contributions.

On Monday, Masaki defended the collection saying the fete’s organizing committee mandated him to write and distribute the letters in the district.

“We are targeting to raise at least Sh100, 000 for the celebrations because we have not received any money from the government,” said Masaki.

Masaki said they have invited entertainment troops from Kuria in Migori County and Bomet Counties.

However, Interior PS Mutea Iringo termed the collections as illegal and saying the ministry has not sanctioned the same. “Not at all,” Iringo told The Standard when asked if the ministry had sanctioned the collection of the monies.

Later, Nyamira County Comssioner Wilson Wanyanga told journalists that he had called the DC and instructed him to withdraw the letters.