Senator wants Ngilu probed over Sh208m collapsed stone crusher project

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua wants former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu investigated over misappropriation of Sh208 million.

He said Ngilu, during her tenure, used the money to set up Kwa-Kilui stone crasher in Lower Yatta subcounty that has since collapsed.

“The former governor and officers in her administration should explain how they sank the money,” Wambua said.

He said since its establishment in 2018, the project has only raised Sh2 million revenue.

Wambua said due process was also not followed when put up the project.

The senator spoke on Tuesday during his Oversight Mashinani forum at the stone crusher plant site.

Operations at the plant stopped in June 2022, two months before Ngilu vacated office.

She was succeeded by Governor Julius Malombe.

An official from the county said Sh162 million was used to set up the crusher and Sh46 million was used in operations cost.

The official said the land's lease will expire in 2029.

He said Malombe is not keen on reviving the project and is weighing the option of selling it.

The other option the county has is to hand over the project to the community through a cooperative society or seek a public-private partnership.

Kwa-vonza MCA Mark Ndingo accused Kitui county officials of diverting revenue collected from the crusher to private accounts.

He said the monies were transferred to mobile money accounts that did not belong to the county.

Wambua urged Malombe's administration to pursue the culprits and bring them to book.

Community members at the meeting unanimously rejected the proposal to sell crasher.

They urged the county to revive the project and allow the community to manage it through a cooperative society.

The residents want the county to also review the lease arrangement and purchase the land.