Murang’a MCAs surrender passports to EACC in Sh62 million travel investigation

All 49 members of Murang’a county assembly have presented their passports to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC), which is investigating possible fraud during six foreign trips between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

The EACC investigation comes hot on the heels of the Auditor General’s report covering the 2013-14 financial year. Last week, the MCAs presented their travel documents to the assembly clerk for onward submission to EACC headquarters.

The investigators are looking at the Sh62.2 million used on foreign trips by the assembly.

The probe comes when the assembly is at loggerheads with the county government following the latest move to institute impeachment proceedings against Governor Mwangi wa Iria and his Finance Secretary George Kamau over failure to remit their Sh20 million allowances to the assembly.

In a text message to MCAs seen by The Standard, Assembly Clerk Chris Kinyanjui said: “EACC will collect the passports of all MCAs by October 8, 2015. Kindly present the documents otherwise it may result in adverse acts against the assembly”.

The Auditor General reported that in the six foreign trips, the assembly spent Sh62.2 million and exceeded the budget by Sh6.2 million while Sh386,644 could have been paid irregularly.

Irregular claims

The report also questioned the excessive and irregular claims on the foreign trips that could have led to wastage as reports written after the trips have not been implemented.

Majority Leader Peter Kihungi said all the MCAs had complied with the EACC request and they are ready to prove their transparency and accountability.

He said the move is meant to shed light on the spending and investigate those who could have swindled the assembly and returned early from foreign trips.

“All the MCAs have adhered to the request as there is nothing to hide as the foreign trips had been approved by the Controller of Budget,” he said.

Car loans

When sought for comment, Speaker Nduati Kariuki described the action by EACC as routine in all counties.

“I suppose they want to establish if anybody was paid for trips not taken as widely circulating elsewhere,” said Mr Nduati.

The Auditor General’s report claimed that some of the MCAs were paid daily substance allowances for more days than they were out of the country.

Separately, the Murang’a County Citizens Forum last week demanded investigations into Sh250 million that MCAs allocated themselves for their car loans and mortgages scheme.