Grieving Souls Robbed: Sh14.5M ‘Heist’ Amidst Londiani Tragedy
The Deputy Governor of Kericho, Fred Kirui, and the County Secretary, Wesley Bor, are accused of misusing Sh14.5 million collected for 77 victims of the Londiani road accident.
As of yesterday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had taken statements from at least ten families of the victims as part of its investigation into how the money was spent.
The disaster on June 30 resulted in 53 fatalities and 24 injuries, with at least five still hospitalized.
On July 4, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led legislators, government technocrats, and members of the public in a Sh13.5 million fundraising event near the accident site at Londiani playground in Kipkelion East Constituency.
As the public continued to donate to the planning committee, the total increased to Sh14.5 million. Mr. Gachagua stated at the occasion that the national government would provide Sh300,000 to the families of the deceased and Sh200,000 to the injured.
This funding was distinct from public donations. As the situation took a new turn, Dr. Bor and Mr. Kirui held separate press conferences in Kericho yesterday.
Dr. Bor stated that of the Sh14.5 million, a total of Sh6.2 million had been paid to the 53 families whose loved ones had been killed and 24 who had suffered injuries of varying degrees. Without providing a breakdown of the expenditures, he disclosed that the committee had spent Sh9.3 million to date.
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The county secretary stated that each of the 53 affected families received Sh90,000 in compensation, for a total of Sh4.77 million, while each of the 24 injured individuals received Sh60,000, for a total of Sh1.44 million.
Intriguingly, the committee allotted Sh300,000 for three motorcycles that were allegedly damaged in the accident, but no funds were allocated to those whose stalls and merchandise were destroyed.
Despite Governor Erick Mutai’s assurance that the county would cover all medical and funeral costs for the victims, the committee paid Sh3.5 million in bills.
Dr. Bor has disavowed a memo he allegedly penned and signed detailing the disbursement of the funds raised, including the amounts each family received from the planning committee comprised of county and national government officials.
In a prompt rebuttal, however, the deputy governor maintained his position, stating that the memo was authentic and had been shared with his office by Dr. Bor.
Move aside
Mr. Kirui requested Dr. Bor and the members of the committee to step aside while the matter was investigated. “As a public figure and deputy governor, I cannot make a falsified document public. Mr. Kirui said at the Kericho police headquarters after recording his statement, “I have recorded a statement with the DCI to further prove my point, and I challenge anyone with an opposing view to refute it with facts.”
He confirmed that the committee disregarded Dr. Mutai’s public position to absolve the funeral and medical expenses of the victims and paid the money in a suspicious transaction.
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Totaling Sh3.57 million, treatment and medication for the victims cost Sh2.03 million at the Kericho County Referral Hospital and Sh1.5 million at the Londiani sub-county hospital. During Mr. Gachagua’s fundraiser, an additional Sh2,95 million was spent on canopies at the Londiani trading center (he contributed Sh2 million and President William Ruto contributed Sh5 million).
A tent costing ShSh411,000 was rented at Rays Hotel, where another Sh100,000 was spent on lunch for 100 guests. The committee spent an additional Sh423,000 on transportation, refreshments, printing, and other expenses.
“This answers the question of whether the information circulating on social media was authentic or not; some of the beneficiaries did not receive the funds because they did not provide the required documentation,” Dr. Bor stated at the press briefing without taking questions from journalists.
“I would like to invite the Deputy Governor (Mr. Kirui) to take time out of his busy schedule and return to the county to see the progress made in addressing the plight of the Londiani accident victims and other issues,” Dr. Bor said.
Waiver
Despite the governor’s declaration of a waiver, the committee went ahead and disbursed funds to the two hospitals, as he explained.
“During the fundraiser, Dr. Mutai vowed and waived the fees for the victims of the Londiani accident’s funeral and medical care. However, we still have critically ill patients undergoing specialized treatment who require additional operations, as Dr. Bor explained.
“The cost of medication and treatment continues to rise. Some victims have had their lower extremities amputated and require rehabilitation to resume their normal lives,” he explained.
Grieving Souls Robbed: Sh14.5M ‘Heist’ Amidst Londiani Tragedy