Former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria has said the government is going after him following his consistent attacks on its operations.
The former governor and the leader of the Usawa kwa Wote party which is a member of the Azimio La Umoja coalition said it was absurd that the government is raising issues against him dating back in 2014 during his first term as a governor.
On Saturday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) released a statement indicating that it intended to charge Murang’a County Officials over procurement irregularities amounting to Sh140 million following investigations on tenders awarded in the 2014-15 and 2016-16 financial years.
EACC said it intended to charge the former governor and eight others with conspiracy to commit an offence, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of property, conflict of interest, dealing with suspect property and money laundering.
But the former county boss alleges that the charges have been trumped up in an attempt to silence him following his recent sentiments against the government’s stand on doctors’ strike.
Last week, Wa Iria and other Azimio leaders including Wiper party leader Stephen Kalonzo, minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, George Wajackoyah(Roots party leader), Eugene Wamalwa( DAP-K) and former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Mureithi supported the strike saying the government’s response was inadequate.
On Sunday, DCI officers attempted to arrest Wa Iria in Mumias, Kakamega, where he had accompanied the team in an event but he reportedly failed to disembark a chopper on which he was travelling, as his counterparts termed the charges a political witch-hunt.
“They said I would be arrested because, in 2014, Murang’a County government placed adverts on its programmes without following the right procedure. I was not the contractor or the procurement officer," Wa Iria said.
“This is just because of my push against attempts to silence Mt Kenya region. They want the region to sit back and be quiet while it is treated unfairly just because it voted for the government and I will not be intimidated."
Wa Iria said Azimio will soon call upon Kenyans who have lost their loved ones due to the strike to come out.
“No sensible government should watch as Kenyans bury their kin as they discuss money. What is happening is worse than Shakahola," Wa Iria said.
The doctor's strike is on its fifth week as doctors maintain they will not budge until the 2017 CBA is fully maintained while the government says it does not have the resources to implement it.
