Carry your own cross, Governor Lenolkulal tells staff implicated in Ksh.2B graft

Carry your own cross, Governor Lenolkulal tells staff implicated in Ksh.2B graft

Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulal on Thursday said he was ready to face the consequences if found guilty of embezzling Ksh.2 billion as alleged by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC).

While addressing the press outside his office, the governor also distanced himself from members of his staff – including his personal assistant – who are alleged by the commission to have opened briefcase companies and awarded themselves county tenders.

The Samburu county chief, while stating that everyone should carry their own cross, added that his administration is a public entity and that he will cooperate with EACC investigators.

“As a government structure we are fully open to investigations and we will fully cooperate with all the investigators to ensure that this matter is dealt with,” he said.

The embattled governor, however urged EACC to conduct honest investigations devoid of political witch hunt.

Governor Lenolkulal was on Wednesday taken into custody by detectives from EACC in connection with the embezzlement of Ksh.2 billion.

His homes in Nairobi’s plush Karen estate and in Samburu as well as those of County Chief Officers – among them his PA Simon Etiene Lelesit, Speaker Solomon Lempere, various CECs as well as contractors – were also raided.

According to EACC boss Twalib Mbarak, investigations showed gross financial misappropriation and conflict of interest in a racket organised in a systematic pattern.

Mr. Mbarak, in a statement to newsrooms, said county officials registered briefcase companies and awarded themselves tenders worth Ksh.700 million.

“No works were done, financial investigations reveal that most of the money was withdrawn in cash and shared out among various county officials. In other cases, contractors were irregularly awarded contracts worth over Ksh.1 billion for works partly or never done after which they paid to top county officials,” read the statement.

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graft EACC Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulal

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