West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin is facing a scrutiny of his alleged misappropriation of county funds running into millions of shillings, with accusations that he channeled the money into non-priority projects.
There have been concerns raised regarding the completion of projects that seem to have been unnecessary priority or underutilised.
County chief officers have reportedly been openly boasting of pocketing North Rift Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials to cover up misappropriation of bursary funds amounting to a staggering Sh167 million allocated this year.
At the centre of the storm are Kachapin, chief officers Julius Loktuma and Pricila Chebet.
They are said to have issued bursary cheques that bounced running into millions. What has surprised many is the fact EACC regional officials have dozens bounced cheques but instead of carrying out investigations, they dangle the same to solicit for bribes.
The bursary funds are said to have been diverted for personal gain, including the renovation and purchase of a hotel reportedly owned by Kachapin.
Reports indicate that the finance officer has also acquired properties running into millions of shillings in Kitale town.
In a complaint submitted to the EACC, residents also accuse Governor Kachapin of exerting undue influence, and pressure over government contracts, favouring individuals like Jacky Rotino, while neglecting other contractors who supported his election bid.
Calls for accountability and transparency in governance are mounting as residents demand swift action from authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
The outcome of these investigations could have significant implications not only for West Pokot county, but also for the broader political landscape in the region that has always seemed to be subdued to the periphery for by the same leaders.
One such project is the governor’s castle which received significant funding despite the presence of adequate housing for the governor within the residence. Similarly, a white elephant university in Keringet area has raised eyebrows, with locals reporting its abandonment and takeover by cobwebs and owls.
In Aramaget, multimillion buildings stand largely idle despite substantial public investment in their construction.
Another questionable venture is a tourist hotel in Kopoch area, which locals argue lacks viability as a significant attraction.
Moreover, suspicions have been raised about governor Kachapin’s personal wealth accumulation, notably with reports of multimillion properties acquired in Kitale within a short period of time since his election.
Local residents are urging the Controller of Budget to intervene and halt the allocation of funds to such non-priority projects, accusing the county administration of squandering public resources.
Despite promises of development and initiatives, grassroots communities are yet to witness tangible benefits under the sly-talking governor Kachapin’s leadership, raising concern over the effective utilisation of public funds and the fulfillment of his campaign slogan and promises to the people.
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