Kisii mayor Samuel Nyangeso on Tuesday admitted that the local authority is riddled with corruption.

Mr Nyangeso claimed that corruption was being propagated by a cartel that involves a section of civic leaders and council officers.

He said the cartel was behind the massive grabbing of private and public land, looting of public funds and fictitious payments.

He further claimed that the councillors were colluding with officers at the lands registry to change land ownership, which had resulted to over 100 plots having more than two owners.

Addressing council workers on Tuesday, he alleged majority of the councillors own between 5-10 illegally acquired pieces of land.

“They are inhuman and do not even spare widows,” he said.

Convoy of cars

Nyangeso, who has been in Mombasa, arrived at the municipality offices in a convoy of motorbikes and cars to the jubilation of workers. The workers downed their tools for hours over poor working conditions.

On the suspension of 12 workers by the town clerk Maina Chira, Mr Nyangeso said the action was illegal and no employee should be victimised because of demanding their rights.