The county where official vehicles are seen at nightspots regularly

By Standard Reporter

Kakamega, Kenya: Kakamega County officials are under scrutiny over misuse of county government assets.

On many occasions, county vehicles have been spotted at entertainment joints and shopping malls at odd hours.

Investigations by The Standard revealed that some of the seven vehicles, which were procured at a cost of Sh35 million, are not being utilised prudently. The vehicles were meant to be distributed to each of the 12 sub-counties in an effort to boost revenue collection and vocational training in polytechnics.

One of the vehicles, KBU 931T was spotted outside Mwauda Club, a popular nightspot in Kakamega town at 9pm last Friday. The county vehicle remained at the joint for hours and it is not known when the person who had the vehicle left the club.

Last week, the county was hit by demonstrations as businesspersons took to the streets to demand reduction of heavy taxes. Kakamega Assembly Deputy Speaker Cleophas Malala said the county government should not impose unreasonable taxes on the public when there is no evidence of services being delivered by the county executives.

“There has been a lot of wanton wastage of resources by county governments, which should be promoting growth of industries and businesses. Instead, the county executives are misusing assets like vehicles and using Sh11 million to erect a wall around the office of the governor,” said Malala.

Fight criminals

Senator Boni Khalwale said he would not relent in his fight against what he termed as oppression of the poor in the county.

“Why do some people think they are more special than the rest of us to require big vehicles and security personnel escorting them everywhere? Our police force is already overstretched. It should be left to fight criminals instead of being misused by the Executive,” he said.