Vihiga Assembly fires back at EACC over raid, denies staff arrests
Chris Omulele, the Speaker of the Vihiga County Assembly, has responded strongly to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission following their recent search at the assembly offices on Thursday.
The EACC is currently probing mortgage and car loan funds exceeding a value of Sh200 million that were accessed by Assembly Officials, Members of County Assembly (MCAs), and staff.
Omulele, speaking about the issue for the first time following the raid, rejected allegations of corruption within the assembly, emphasizing their cooperation with the EACC during the ongoing investigation.
“We as an Assembly have fully complied by giving members all the Mortgage (36 Members and Speaker and the Clerk). This has been fully disbursed and the members of County Assembly are currently fully servicing the said loans,” Omulele stated in his statement.
“The EACC has on several occasions requested documents regarding the said car loan and mortgage account which documents we have been religiously and diligently supplying to them through their Kisumu regional office.
Simultaneously, Omulele refuted claims regarding the apprehension of high-ranking officials from the county assembly.
The speaker mentioned that the Assembly has not received any formal notification from the commission regarding the arrest of their personnel.
There were reports alleging that Ambaka Kilinga, the Clerk of the Vihiga County Assembly, and Oscar Jagona, the finance officer, had been taken into custody.
“Contrary to the media reports none of the said officers was arrested as incorrectly reported and no members of the committee have been called for interrogation regarding the said car loan and mortgage fund,” Omulele added.
He described as political the EACC probe as saying it was wrong for the commission to declare the County Assembly offices a crime scene.
“We can’t brand the Assembly of Vihiga County as a crime scene when we haven’t established the crimes,” Omulele said.
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“What is happening within the Assembly of Vihiga is a political war that is set to tarnish the image of Vihiga County Assembly.”
Omulele mentioned that MCAs have the right to receive compensation for their cars and mortgages, which he noted they are presently managing.
He mentioned that the fund goes through the Vihiga County Assembly Car Loan and Mortgage Committee, which is legitimately formed according to the Vihiga County Assembly Act.
“We have on previous occasions supplied all the documentation regarding the Car Loan vide EACC/SKM/6/15/4/VOL (ii)/24 dated 23/10/2023 and availed on 25/10/23 to the EACC,” Omulele stated.
“We hope the EACC shall establish if indeed the Ksh.300 million was granted to Vihiga County Assembly as alleged and hold whoever they claim to be responsible for the said loss to account.”
EACC secured legal rulings on December 20, 2023, by asserting their possession of comprehensive details regarding substantial misappropriation of public funds within the Vihiga County Assembly.
The directive prompted them to investigate offices within the county in an attempt to gather information and paperwork related to the issue.
However, Omulele asserts that the application of force during the search was unwarranted given that they have been providing the necessary documents since 2014.
“We beseech EACC to act by law if need be we shall avail any Officer they intend to arrest/prosecute. However we condemn the action of sending a platoon of armed policemen to break into the County Assembly to effect execution of the Search Warrant whereas the Vihiga county assembly has never failed to provide any document upon request by the said institution since the year 2014,” he said.
He added:
“What is happening currently in the assembly is the external force that he won’t comment on at the moment but after the outcome of the said investigations.”
Vihiga Assembly fires back at EACC over raid, denies staff arrests
