Governor James Ongwae Responds to attacks from Arati and Matiang’i
Written by Zachary Mayieka on June 26, 2022
Kisii county Governor H.E James Ongwae has responded to attacks meted to him and members of the county assembly by Kisii County ODM gubernatorial candidate Simba Arati and Interior cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
On Friday June 24th, Arati accused governor Ongwae of forcing the county assembly to pass budgets, after adjourning all assembly sittings.
According to Arati, the assembly created an additional vacancy of Public Service chair and two plots of land that markets are to be built, things he termed as a planned theft of Kshs 200 million from each plot.
” You cannot sit down in a room trying to plan to commit an economic crime. Stealing taxpayers money for ten years and now you want to take everything?.” Simba Arati said.
Simba also added that police officers who were used to guard members of the county assembly during the passage of that budget had confirmed.
Speaking at a ground breaking function at Nyaura primary in Nyaribari Chache, CS Fred Matiang’i exploded on the same.
Matiang’i vowed to arrest those who will be found guilt of stealing public funds.
” Eti watu walienda mahali walienda kukaa, kuibia county, eti sisi tukawasindikiza kwani kazi yetu ni kusindikiza wezi? Hapana bwana wewe county commissioner utaniambia ni akina nani. Na unajua si eti tunacheza hapa, tutawakamata, na kama mtu ameshindwa kazi aseme.” Matiang’i said.
A day later, Governor Ongwae reacted over the same and said the budget passed was important for the continuity of the county activities.
Ongwae said failure to pass the budget, workers would not be paid for the month of July and that no development would be done.
“This one saying that the county assembly had adjourned all sittings before passing the budget, is a total lie. The sittings were to be adjourned officially on Thursday 23rd of which they did immediately they passed.” Said Ongwae.
In a press conference that was held at the Kisii Agricultural Training centre on Saturday, governor Ongwae condemned CS Matiang’i for joining such a petty conversation.
In the succession politics, governor Ongwae said Simba Arati is not fit to succeed his position as the county manager. Instead he asked residents to consider the three candidates from Azimio who include Christopher Obure of Jubilee, Manson Oyongo of KNC and Sam Ongeri of DAP-K.
The County head was accompanied by Woman Representative Janet Ong’era and Kitutu Chache North Mp Jimmy Angwenyi.
