Nairobi MCA in bursaries fraud saga denies involvement, blames Sonko

Kitisuru Ward MCA Alvin Olando Palapala implicated in the Nairobi County Assembly bursary fraud has denied involvement saying he is not a signatory to the bursary fund account.

The second time MCA has disowned the NR Talvo Limited company that several bursary cheques were diverted to.

“I am not aware of that company. Nairobi County Assembly bursaries are paid to schools and not a company. Secondly I’m not a signatory,” said Olando.

However, documents obtained by Citizen TV, however, show stamps from his office and his signature but, Olando is quick to blame his tribulations on his differences with Governor Mike Sonko that he says have escalated since 2018.

“My people of Kitisuru are going to demonstrate on Friday because I always call them and give them bursaries. Sonko should come out clearly and say why he is fighting with an MCA. I’m a junior person who the government should not be fighting with,” said the MCA on Tuesday.

When Citizen TV visited some of the affected schools in Murang’a and Machakos counties, principals of Kariti Secondary School and General Mulinge High School  respectively confirmed that DCI detectives visited the schools over the fraud.

In Kariti, the student whose cheque was diverted is still grappling with Ksh.19,000 fee balance.

When we went to Gen. Mulinge High School in Kathiani Constituency in Machakos County, the principal told Citizen TV that they only saw images of cheques from detectives with the name of the school mispelt. The supposed recipient student non- existent in the school.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko says he has formed a special committee that will conduct an  audit of all bursary disbursements in all the 84 wards.

According to the governor, the team will also oversee bursary disbursement in the next phase.

The Governor in a statement to Citizen TV this evening said:

“We call upon the investigating agencies to dig to the bottom of the scam and ensure those diverting monies meant for the needy children and denying them a chance to education are jailed. The few crooks in the assembly who are spoiling the name of City Hall must be held accountable.”

He added: “I took an oath to serve mwananchi. We cannot therefore treat everything as political. This is a grave issue that must not be trivialised. The few MCAs who used to collude with my county staff to alter cheques to their wives and relatives must be brought to book.”