How Siaya MCAs Gobbled Up Sh400 Million

New information has come to light on how members of the Siaya County Assembly coerced the executive to illegally divert Sh400 million to their election campaigns.

A whistleblower alleges that MCAs allocated themselves money in complete violation of the law by using “fictitious” sitting allowances and per diems obtained through the assembly’s general oversight committee.

The source, who was at the center of the transactions, told the Nation that the MCAs received more than Sh25 million in payments made in two batches, with the lawmakers reportedly receiving roughly Sh566,000 each.

Other payments were made to assembly workers who were purportedly used as conduits in the scam.

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The anonymous source disclosed that meetings of the general oversight committee, which included all members, typically occur once or twice a month.

MCAs receive a daily allowance for the meetings for seven days. The Ward Reps who were at the time fighting to retain their seats are said to have used this method to obtain funding for their campaigns.

“Towards the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, members wanted money for campaigns and held the governor to ransom,” the source is quoted by the daily.

MCAs then demanded per diem for 40 days. This way, the lawmakers pocketed millions of shillings.

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“This was split into two and the first batch for the 20 days was directly wired from the assembly vote head into the MCAs’ accounts,” the whistleblower revelead.

Last week it was revealed that the Siaya county executive paid four individuals a whopping Sh11,254,800. The individuals are suspected to be assembly committee clerks.

Defending the assembly, clerk Erick Ogenga said there is no legal restriction on an assembly officer getting compensation from the executive or the assembly.

“What is [relevant] is whether such funds were legally applied or not,” he told reporters on Monday in Kisumu.

He added, “The funds were requisitioned before the end of the 2021/2022 financial year and received around June 30, 2022 before the assembly adjourned sine die.”