MCas put new finance nominee to task over governor's V8 car

Members of the Kisumu County Assembly yesterday quizzed Finance and Economic Planning nominee George Omondi on the executive's decision to buy a Sh19 million Toyota Land Cruiser for Governor Anyang' Nyong'o.

Mr. Omondi, who was being vetted at the Aga Khan Hall, was hard-pressed to explain the process behind the vehicle's purchase.

"You were a key member in the county government. You were the acting county secretary and economic adviser to the governor. What did you advise on this V8?" asked Kondele MCA Joachim Oketch.

The MCA claimed that the Land Cruiser was bought second-hand and questioned why the administration would spend so much on a used vehicle.

Omondi said he was aware the purchase had raised questions but said there were government assessors who were looking into the car's price, among other things.

"I promise to institute investigations and I can assure members that I will not pay for what is not deemed a necessary cost by the government valuers," he said.

Communication Director Alloyce Ager, however, said they only had good intentions when they bought the car.

"The governor only has one official vehicle. When we want to take the car for maintenance, he has to wait for days hence the resolve to buy him a new car," Mr Ager said. "The vehicle in official use was bought six years ago and has grown old."

Omondi was also grilled on the county's failure to buy seven ambulances despite Sh65 million being allocated for the project.