The government should arrest Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua in connection with irregular vehicle purchases or residents will detain him, an MCA has said.
The EACC recommended Mutua be charged with violating procurement procedures when buying 14 vehicles for the executive committee.
They were single-sourced and over-priced.
“He should be arrested immediately or we will lead a citizen’s arrest against him,” Machakos Town MCA Cornelius Kitheka said in his ward yesterday.
Present were members of the business community, youth leader Henry Kioko and residents.
Kitheka told the anti-graft agency and the Director of Public Prosections to arrest Mutua in seven days.
He said residents suspect a ploy to prevent Mutua from being seized, despite the courts quashing his bid to block his arrest.
“He held a rally on Saturday under police guard. We expect them to arrest him,” Kitheka said.
“This tells us no one is keen to enforce the court orders.”
Kioko asked why Mutua is free, yet his officers linked to the same scandal are facing charges.
“What is so special about Mutua that the authorities are scared of arresting him?” he said.
Resident Mwendwa Mutuku said other governors are in court on corruption charges, and Mutua should not be exempt.
The county bought executives 14 Subaru Outback vehicles from Xtreme Auto in Valley Arcade, Nairobi.
Mutua says his arrest over the vehicles would be unlawful.
He said his right to hold office is likely to be infringed on, as he has been questioned by the EACC.
On December 18, Justice Isaac Lenaola approved Mutua’s arrest on grounds he failed to demonstrate how his rights to a fair hearing would be violated.
On December 29, judge Joseph Onguto, sitting in Milimani, Nairobi, refused to issue stay orders sought by Mutua.
He referred the case to Lenaola.
Onguto said he cannot interfere with orders issued by another judge.