LIKUYANI MP Enoch Kibunguchy says the proposed construction of Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s residence in Likuyani is a fraud and should be investigated.
Kibunguchy said the county does not own land in Likuyani and the administration is planning to use public funds to construct Oparanya’s residence on private land.
The county government advertised a tender for construction of the governor’s residence in Likuyani on April 18, 2015.
“I found this advertisement mischievous and an impending fraud.
“I know the Governor has bought personal land in Likuyani,” the MP said.
How is it possible for the county government to propose to construct governor’s residence on private land?” he told the Star on the telephone.
But the county administration yesterday said the proposed governor’s satellite residence is in Lugari subcounty and not Likuyani.
“There was an error in the tender advertisement that it cited Likuyani and not Pan Paper grounds in Lugari. It is true that there will be two projects, one in Likuyani for the governor’s private home which cannot be mixed with the county home projet at Pan Paper,” said Musa Chibole, the governor’s adviser.
Chibole said the decision to set up a satellite residence in the northern region of the county is due to the fact Lugari and Likuyani are far away from Kakamega town.
“This is meant to integrate the two constituencies with the rest of the county because they normally feel closer to Eldoret than Kakamega.
“The governor spends in Eldoret when he is operating in the two regions,” Chibole said.
But Kibunguchy said it is illogical to put up a governor’s satellite residence when the county has not constructed the official governor’s residence that was budgeted for in 2013-2014 financial year.
“This amounts to secretly shifting the county headquarters from Kakamega to Likuyani on the border with Trans-Nzoia county,” he said.
Kibunguchy accused Oparanya of running the county government without any consultation.
He said the governor’s residence is not a priority.
However Chibole said construction of the governor’s official residence in Kakamega has delayed because the county is unable to find suitable land.