EACC asked to probe roads fund misuse in Karachuonyo
A concerned resident from Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County is demanding for a swift and thorough investigation into an alleged misappropriation of funds allocated for the improvement of roads.
Samson Nyakoe has raised a formal complaint to the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) highlighting allocation budgets for several roads in three wards and their current status. The wards mentioned include North Ward, Wang’chieng’, and Kanyaluo.
According to Nyakoe, North Ward was allocated a cumulative Sh12 million in the financial year 2022/23 for the improvement of various roads.
He also provided detailed excerpts which are documented in public records by Homa Bay County showing additional breakdown of the roads.
Nyakoe states in the petition to EACC that Wagwe-Kagai-Kibaga-Ramogi-otero market was allocated Sh3 million for opening and murraming. Alos-Koboo-Lwasi and Kajigo-Othuon-Kodondi-Kagoga-Kosawa on the other hand were assigned Sh2.5 million each for grading and murraming.
Additionally, Pala-Soko-nyamila-Ondeto was given Sh4 million for opening, murraming and culverting.
Similarly, the Rakwaro-Mamba-Lida road in Wang’chieng’ ward and Wimagak Sare road in Kanyaluuo Ward were allotted additional funds.
Marked complete
Details were also provided for other roads in the county including Gem West and Kagan in Rangwe Constituency which also received Sh12 million each.
Nyakoe claims that although documents show that these roads are constructed and marked “complete”, none of them have been worked on.
“As we come to the end of the financial year, let it be understood that the said funds were disbursed as per documents within our possession in the last fiscal year, but no work done. It is utterly immoral to move into a new financial year and allocate new funds for roads that were earmarked for improvement in the last budget and not done” he stated.
Nyakoe who is representing Karachuonyo residents is calling on relevant committees in Homa Bay County to implement authorities at grassroots level and want individuals responsible to be held accountable. He has assured that the residents will relentlessly follow up on the matter until action is taken and files handed over to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) for execution of persecutory mandate as provided by the Kenyan Constitution.
These allegations and calls for transparency highlight broader concerns for accountability and transparency in public offices across the country with Kenyans demanding for appropriate management of funds starting from President William Ruto’s office down to local county offices.
According to EACC, Kenya which has been put on the spotlight for having corrupt public offices, loses Sh608 billion or 7.8 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually to corruption.
