Bungoma MCAS now want the assembly's top leadership to leave office over graft allegations involving the "unprocedural" purchase of a bus.
The MCAs drawn from the minority and majority sides have demanded that speaker Emmanuel Situma, clerk John Mosongo, Majority leader Florence Fulano and Minority's Francis Chemion step aside until the issues raised are addressed to a conclusion.
In a heated debate in the House on Tuesday, the ward reps accused the assembly leadership of buying a second-hand bus for Sh4.5 million despite them allocating Sh6 million.
In a statement sought by Kimaeti MCA Jack Wambulwa, the legislators wanted to know why the leaders had purchased a 28-seater bus and not a 33-seater that had been agreed on.
The MCAS further wanted to know how the leadership had decided to purchase the bus from a broker associated with clerk Mosongo and not directly from Isuzu Kenya, which has a franchise in Bungoma town.
“Mr speaker this is corruption of the highest order. We cannot pretend to be oversighting the executive when this House is an assembly of the corrupt ,” Wambulwa said.
Wambulwa further said the company that had supplied the vehicle, which was already in bad shape, had not featured anywhere during tendering and was associated with the clerk.
Mbakalu MCA Bethwel Mwambu said the assembly had several questionable deals by the current leadership and it was high time they were purged to allow for new leadership.
He questioned why the bus had no insurance cover and had been grounded, noting that a brand new vehicle comes with an insurance cover from the dealer.
“Mr speaker, if you look at that bus, it is not worth the money spent. As to why you opted to buy a second-hand vehicle, we don’t understand. The whip must be cracked,” Mwambu said.
Speaker Emmanuel Situma recused himself from the case, saying he had adversely been mentioned and directed that the Committee on Public Administration and ICT investigate the matter. A report should be tabled on the floor of the House in a week.
“Now that I have adversely been mentioned, I direct the relevant committee to investigate the matter and table its finding during which any member of the speaker’s panel will oversee the House sittings," he said.
The MCAs, however, insisted that the House leadership resigns, even before the findings are out.
“We are members of this House. There is nothing new we are going to investigate as it is clear that these people have squandered the assembly’s money and should be held accountable,”Chwele MCA Barasa Mukhongo claimed..
John Maguda further accused the leadership of embezzling cash meant for MCAs' health insurance cover.
“This House is rotten. I can tell you for free that currently, no MCA is covered and this is indeed a sorry state of affairs,” Maguda said.
Speaker Situma, Mosongo and the Majority and Minority leaders all declined to comment on the matter after the House sitting.
