- Governor Lusaka said he had received information that officials in his administration are involved in corrupt activities.
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The county boss warned those who are taking part in the malicious activities that EACC will catch up with them.
Image: TONY WAFULA
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has admitted the existence of corruption in his government and warned his officers, saying those found engaging in graft will carry their cross.
Lusaka said he had received information that officials in his administration are involved in corrupt activities, with some officials openly demanding bribes.
"As the governor, I am the greatest consumer of all intelligence. I’m getting disturbing information about corruption and extortion by some members of my government," Lusaka said.
He said some officials were even demanding kickbacks before the work was done.
“You cannot be demanding money even before the work is done. That one is acceptable,” Lusaka said.
He was speaking at the county headquarters on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of two municipality board members and the new county secretary.
“I was elected to deliver services to the people of this county and when I was given the mandate I came with a vision and manifesto for you to help me implement. If you are not for that manifesto then you are serving the wrong government,” Lusaka said.
“I know the economy is not favourable right now and everybody is trying to find his/her way out to get money but that is not the right route."
The county boss warned those who are taking part in the malicious activities at the county that come next year the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission will deal with those who will be found culpable.
Lusaka also urged county executives to end internal wrangles and work for the people.
“We must work as a team and when the assembly speaker talks he is speaking from a point of knowledge, we have ongoing wrangles in our departments and I want to tell those fighting that we have come here to work, everybody must perform,” he said.
Lusaka said that those engaging in corruption will be exposed and action taken against them.
The governor also tasked the county secretary to clean the payroll noting that there is a huge wage bill because some workers who died many years ago are still on the county payroll.
“There is corruption on our payroll that is a reason why I wrote to the Nairobi office that has dispatched a team of seven people who will come to help in cleaning the payroll and give us a detailed report,” he said.
William Makhanu Nasong’o was sworn in as the new county Secretary.
Nasong’o was appointed by Governor Lusaka after emerging as the best from a pool of 15 applicants who sought to fill the vacant position.
Agriculture CEC Monicah Fedha has been handling the role in an acting capacity for 11 months.
Also present were Deputy Governor Jenipher Mbatiany, CEC and MCAs.