Nyandarua Governor Waithaka Mwangi, deputy Mwangi Kirika take on each other over lost funds

Leadership wrangles and political rivalry in Nyandarua County have intensified as new political alignments emerge to take on Governor Waithaka Mwangi over corruption in his administration.

Deputy Governor Mwangi Kirika has waded into the controversy after he supported contents of the Auditor General’s report which indicated that more than Sh700 million was lost in the first year of the county’s leadership.

Kirika’s differences with the Governor widened after he joined Senator Muriuki Karue in criticising his (governor’s) leadership style and alleged corruption in his administration.

The Auditor General, in his 2013/14 report, said more than Sh700 million was lost in the first year of the county leadership.

Mwangi’s political rivals have been organising public forums to explain to residents the contents of the audit report. A copy of the report, which has sharply divided the county leadership, has been selling at Sh20.

In a county where the poor state of roads has made and destroyed political careers, revelations that the county leadership spent Sh658 million on road maintenance instead of Sh248 million has shocked residents.

The group opposed to the governor comprises all area MPs - JM Waiganjo (Ol Jororok), David Kiaraho (Ol Kalou), Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri) and Waweru Nderitu (Ndaragwa).

Also in the team is Kinangop MP Stephen Mburu Kinyanjui and Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia.

The governor draws his support from all MCAs except for those from Kipipiri where the deputy governor hails from.

Karue was forced to cancel a public rally he had convened at Ol Kalaou after rowdy youths chanting slogans in support of the governor stoned his convoy. Two weeks later, the Senator organised a similar meeting at Engineer Trading Centre where he took eager residents through the contents of the report despite opposition by a group allied to the governor.

“That was a bid to block me from telling the public the truth but I will not be cowed. They must know the truth,” he said of the botched Ol Kalou rally.

But it was last weekend’s onslaught by the deputy governor at Engineer that has rattled the county leadership.

Kirika claimed Governor Mwangi was surrounded by corrupt individuals who he blamed for the lost public funds.

Kirika, a former MP, and candidate for the gubernatorial seat in the 2013 elections before reaching a pre-poll deal with the governor, insisted that the Auditor General’s report was a true reflection of what was going on in the county.

“Let the public know how their funds are used. Whoever wants to block these public meetings is ill advised,” he said.

A group allied to the governor later announced a mega meeting in Ol Kalou to table both the Auditor General’s and CDF audit reports for residents to compare.

Apart from roads, the county was also put on the spot for irregular procurement of the construction of five eco-toilets at Sh4 million each. In addition, the Kasuku market project was abandoned after it was found to have been done on a road reserve although Sh695,241 had already been paid to the contractors.

The Governor has however said some of the issues raised by his rivals in the media were exaggerated. But Senator Karue has declared he has no personal differences with the governor.

“I have no problem with the Governor. What people think are differences among us can be thrashed out if leaders agree to hold consultations,” the Senator said recently.

The governor sacked 13 senior officials in his government, among them one executive committee member, soon after the report was released.

But his critics say the move was too little too late and that the governor should have acted earlier to ensure no public money was lost.

“It is three years down the line and we have not felt development on the ground. The government must tell us how they are spending our funds,” said Ol Jororok MP Waiganjo.