Kenya News Agency
Tuesday September 25, 2018
The Wajir County Senator, Dr. Ali Abdullahi Kabreta now wants his constituents to forgive him for his inactivity since his election.
Speaking at the Wajir County Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) hall in Wajir town during a youth forum, Ali said he would change and be more proactive in performance of his duties.
“I want to apologise to you…I know I have not been performing my duties as per my mandate,” said Ali, adding that he would be more active in his oversight role as from now.
“My mission is to watchdog the county funds from officials with an appetite for looting,” reiterated the Senator.
The Senator has been conspicuously silent on corruption scandals and reportedly nepotism surrounding appointments in the county.
“I was busy with other issues,” confessed the County legislator, adding that his hands were now untied since he was involved in court cases challenging his election in last year’s elections, a matter which has been resolved out of court.
The county government has been marred by claims of corruption and nepotism in its first year in office. Anti-corruption detectives have raided county offices twice, investigating financial scandals amounting to millions of shillings.
In April, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Officers raided the Wajir Roads department offices and confiscated laptops, desktops, files and other documents during a four hour search.
The officers declined to speak to the media during and after the operation. However, when reached on phone, North Eastern Region Anti-Corruption Chief, Japheth Baithalu said his officers were investigating allegations of misuse of public funds.
“We carried out a search after obtaining a court warrant. Officers seized documents to assist in the probe,” confirmed Baithalu.
In July, five officers from the EACC accompanied by 15 armed police officers raided the Wajir County finance department offices.
They caught the staff unawares and interrogated a number of accountants and senior officers in the finance and internal audit office.
The Saturday event was attended by Wajir East MP, Rashid Kassim and his counterparts, Ahmed Abdisalan of Wajir North and Ahmed Bashane of Tarbaj.