MPs order Oparanya arrest over county spending

MPs order Oparanya arrest over county spending

The Senate’s Public Accounts Investment Committee (PAIC) has directed the parliamentary clerk to process warrant of arrest to be issued through the office of Inspector General of Police to arrest Kakamega Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, for snubbing summons.

According to the Chairperson of PAIC, Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyon’go, the governor has declined to appear before the committee to answer audit queries in revenue and expenditureaccounts of Kakamega County as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report of financial year 2014/2015.

The Kakamega County legal officer had written to the Senate committee ordering it to stop discussing the matter as it is in the court, with Senators Bonny Khalwale and Anyang’ Nyong’o laughing off the letter saying it is a different audit queries they are dealing with.

”Kakamega County is talking about the summons which were in respect of the accounts of 2013/2014 yet we, PAIC, are dealing with the year 2014/2015 which is not applicable,” said Dr. Khalwale.

The warrant of arrest is to be issued based on Article 125 of the 2010 Constitution that gives the National Assembly and Senate house committees powers similar to those of the High Court.

On his part, the governor has laughed off the allegations and arrest warrant terming them a ‘witch-hunt’ that Senator Khalwale is orchestrating to paint a bad picture of him towards the constituents of Kakamega as he is also eying the governor’s seat on a Ford Kenya party ticket in the August polls.

PAIC has since organized a meeting with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO, Ezra Chiloba, Director of Public Prosecution, Keriako Tobiko, and EACC Deputy CEO, Michael Mubea, to discuss the case, with the DPP advising the committee to wait for court’s decision on Oparanya’s case.

“The fact that his case is on court awaiting judgment on the 21st of June lets wait so as not to encroach on the matter,” DPP, Tobiko, told the Senate committee.

PAIC now wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to assure them that they will use evidence they have tabled before it to bar leaders facing graft probe like Oparanya and former Devolution CS, Anne Waiguru from contesting in the August elections.

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