Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:42:10 -0700 (PDT)
BY JEFF OTIENO IN KISUMU
The newly elected Kisumu city mayor Sam Okello has been urged by a group of councillors to promptly intervene to salvage the council grader.
According to the enraged civic Leaders the 20 million grader was bought in 2006 by the regime of the former mayor Priscah Auma to generate revenue for the council and refurbish council roads.
Investigations by this journalist reveals that the graders use has been diverted into commercial gains by a clique of council chief officers who dish it out to their favourite local contractors at “friendly” cost albeit at the expense of the cash strapped civil authority whose workers have not been paid salary for now close to 12 months.
Impeccable sources confided to this journalist that the council chief Eng Lawrence Airo has decided not to open a separate account for the grader and instead opted to channel all the income accruing from the grader into council general account thus making it difficult for anyone scrutinize or know it’s viability.
“The grader is almost grounding to a halt and i wonder which coffer will be used to repair it”, quipped a woman councillor.
A spot check by this writer reveals that the staggering millions worth machine is lying in one of the council yards partially dilapidated with it’s tires completely worn out.
“Main roads within the council jurisdiction particularly in the slums are deplorable yet a few disgruntled and unscrupulous individuals are embezzling with glee the grader “, continued the woman councillor.
END
Subject: KISUMU MAYOR CHALLENGED OVER GRADER
I THINK THE MAYOR, HAS GOT GREAT THINGS TO DO AHEAD,ISSUE LIKE GRADER SHOULD BE DELT WITH THE TOWNCLERK,AND THE ENGINEER,THE PRINCIPLE AIM OF HIS WORSHIP MAYOR,IS TO WOE INVESTORS.IF THE NEED BE THEN THE KISUMU CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF THE KENYA ANTI-CORRUPTION.
MR. OKELLO HAS DONE VERY LITTLE AS COMPARED TO HIS PROMISES THAT HE MADE AND I WONDER WHY SOMEONE HAS TO BE IMPORTED ALL THE WAY FROM DO WE WANT TO SAY THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WE VOTED FOR DIN’T HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE MAYORS. I CALL UPON FELLOW COUNCILLORS TO REJECT THE MOVE BECAUSE THAT IS AN ABUSE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.