Games and Sports
Withhold Cash, Civic Men Urge Action Over Probe
They want the funding stopped until an alleged financial mess is sorted out.
The councillors were reacting to an audit report released last week in which the council is owed Sh135.3 million in uncollected water and rental bills.
The inspection report also revealed that the council has lost more than Sh15 million in the past one year.
The councillors, led by the chairman of the Town Planning Committee, Mr Charles Ombuna, asked the Minister for Local Government to suspend allocation of the Local Government Transfer Fund to the municipality until previous disbursements have been accounted for.
In a statement faxed to the Kisumu Nation office, the councillors expressed shock at the money reportedly misappropriated by chief officers.
"The theft of funds and rampant corruption at the council amount to criminal mismanagement of public resources," they said.
The council is in financial problems and owes creditors Sh44 million, excluding a National Housing Corporation loan.
The bitter councillors called on the Commissioner of Police to arrest the suspects and charge them.
They claimed that the Town Clerk "is untouchable" as he allegedly enjoys the protection of a senior Kisii politician.
"Recently, the Kisii DC complained about misappropriation of millions of shillings and asked the Local Government Ministry to investigate," they recalled.
They alleged that the council set aside Sh7.3 million for the grading of roads in the town but the chief officers reportedly connived with a contractor and Sh14 million has been spent.
"No single road has been constructed in Kisii," the civic leaders asserted.
Those who signed the statement included the General Purposes Committee chairman Charles Angwenyi, Finance Committee chairman Samson Obag and Public Health chairman Simeon Nyamari.
Others were Mr Joel Moseti, Mr Titus Omae, Mr Pius Abuki, Mr John Osese, Mr Peter Masanta, Mr Thomas Oresi, Mr Joseph Mogere and Mr Monyenge Yoge.
They supported Mayor Michael Okari who divulged the details of the inspection report to journalists.
They challenged Local Government Minister Joseph Kamotho to explain why action had not been taken against those implicated despite complaints by councillors and the DC.
The councillors demanded the immediate suspension of all tenders awarded for the construction of roads in the municipality.
