Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is now facing allegations of nepotism, conflict of interest and irregular recruitment, after appointing more family members to county positions.
Days after appointing her husband Murega Baicu as the county’s Youth Patron and Hustlers’ Ambassador, Mwangaza is reported to have now appointed her two sisters to county positions, one as a personal assistant and another one as a bodyguard.
The recent developments have raised the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission’s (EACC) radar on her. The antigraft agency has already written a letter demanding explanations for her recent actions.
“It is reported that you have employed two of your sisters to public office, one as your personal assistant and another as security personnel,” EACC says in the letter.
Read: How To Report Corruption In Kenya
According to EACC, Baicu has been giving orders to county employees, despite his role being obscure.
“Further, reports indicate that Mr Baicu has been attending official county meetings and issuing directives to county employees yet it is not clear whether he is a public officer,” the EACC says in the letter.
“The Commission notes that these allegations constitute serious ethical issues and if true would amount to a serious breach of the integrity and ethical requirements governing the conduct of State officers. While the information within our knowledge is that Mr Murega Baicu will be performing his duties without pay, we find this inconsistent with this provision because the office he occupies is a public office within the meaning of this article whether or not he draws a salary,” the letter states.
Mwangaza has been put to task to explain her instructions directing the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to spend its revenues at the source against the dictates of the Public Finance Management Act which demands that all money raised by the county government must be paid into the revenue fund.
Mwangaza has already fallen out with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) two months after her elections, with the MCAs accusing her of arrogance.
On Wednesday, October 19, there was drama at Meru County Assembly after the MCAs stormed out of the assembly as the governor was making her address.
While addressing the media after the fracas, the governor suggested that MCAs acted under the influence of demons.
Email your news TIPS to editor@thesharpdaily.com
