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Taita Taveta Deputy Speaker arrested over Sh17m graft claims

Taita Taveta Deputy Speaker arrested over Sh17m graft claims
Hand cuffs. Image used for representation purposes only. PHOTO/Pexels

Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) officers have arrested Taita Taveta Deputy Speaker Anselm Mwadime Chao over alleged misappropriation of Sh17 million meant for a bonding trip to Zanzibar by officials.

Through spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, the commission yesterday confirmed that it had arrested Mwadime in Taita Taveta and transported him to Mombasa. He is scheduled to appear in court today.

It is alleged that the Speaker, Clerk, 21 MCAs and four other officers spent about Sh17 million on a bonding trip to Marijani Hotel in Zanzibar in November 2022, without following proper guidelines on public finance.

EACC claims that of the total amount, Sh9 million was paid to the organisers of the conference and travel arrangements and the balance of Sh8 million was paid as imprest advance to 30 officers who were to attend the training.

 EACC report says that the County Assembly used forged travel clearance letters purportedly issued by the Principal Secretary Ministry of Devolution as authority to travel to Zanzibar.

 “This was as a result of imprest advanced to the Speaker, Clerk, 21 Members of County Assembly and four other officers for travelling to Zanzibar for a bonding trip in the financial year 2022/2023,”reads part of EACC report released to the media yesterday.

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