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South Mugirango CDF Account Frozen

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Published on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 20:52

THE South Mugirango CDF account has been frozen. The chief executive of the fund's secretariat Agnes Odhiambo said only crucial projects will be funded.

"In the absence of an MP, and for the purposes of safeguarding public funds, we request that you freeze the South Mugirango Constituency Development Fund account on payments to project management committees," said the letter to Cooperative Bank Kisii branch "Expenditure to be incurred include bursary to deserving students, office expenses for payments of staff salaries and wages and utilities like water electricity and postal services," Odhiambo said.

She said the district development officer and district accountant will approve cheque payments. Manson Nyamweya, a candidate in the constituency's upcoming by-election, demanded that the account be probed. "I suspect there is a syndicate' to siphon the money through payments to individuals for campaigns ahead of the by election," he told reporters at a Kisii hotel.

He produced a cheque of Sh125,000 cashed by Francis Onyango, the CDF fund manager for South Mugirango. Onyango yesterday confirmed he cashed the cheque and was duly allowed to do it. "The money would not have been released to any other official of the committee," he said. He said the money he withdrew was for payment of salaries and wages, electricity and water bills.

Onyango said he received a copy of the letter freezing the account earlier this month. The CDF secretary Nyang'au Omwamba said in the absence of an MP, the fund manager runs the show.