Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) has commenced investigations against Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho into his alleged involvement in embezzlement of Sh31.4 billion.

The move comes after a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) claimed to have concrete evidence against Joho over what they termed as questionable expenditure of resources in three Financial Years between July 2017 and July 2020.

EACC lower Coast EACC boss Mutembei Nyaga yesterday confirmed that he had received a report from the MCAs over the alleged misappropriation. 

He said detectives are evaluating the report before taking any action. “The information is in our possession.

We are evaluating it and I can assure you once we are through, appropriate action will be taken.

These are just accusations and they are subject to verification,” said Nyaga.

 The MCAs allege that Sh31.4 billion has been mismanaged in three Financial Years from July 2017 to July 2020, with little to show on the ground in terms of development.

 The amount includes Sh11.1 billion in the 2017/18 Financial Year, some Sh13.3 billion in the 2018/19 and Sh6.9 billion in the first nine months of the 2019/20 Fiscal Year.

The ward representatives want the commission to direct the county Treasury to give detailed reports and files on the issues raised.

Stale projects 

“We have written to EACC demanding investigations of Sh31.4 billion the governor cannot account for. We are asking the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and EACC to come and investigate this matter because we have the evidence,” said one of the MCAs.

They want the devolved government to name every project initiated and implemented and their costs during the three Financial Years.

Robert Nyiro, the Bamburi MCA claims the existence of many stale projects in wards is a headache to leaders and residents and need to be questioned for appropriate action to be taken.

Those who voted us to oversight the governor are accusing us of being bought by the executive.

Enough is enough. We respect the governor but on this one we want him to come out clear,” he said.

Nyiro added that despite all being elected on an ODM ticket, their actions should not be taken as disrespect to the party but a move to ensure accountability.

“We are all ODM MCAs and our complaints are genuine. If we do not speak on behalf of the residents, we will be labelled as rubber-stamps, which is not the case,” said Nyiro.

Mjambere MCA Fahad Kassim says the devolved government plans to spend Sh65 million on buying flowers and Sh3.4 million to drill boreholes this fiscal year.

“We demand answers on these monies, people of Mombasa are tired about stories they want development,” said Kassim.