Meru MCAs claim they were conned Sh5m during State House visit

 

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Members of the Meru County Assembly claim they were swindled Sh5 million handed to them during their Friday meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.
An unnamed member of the delegation is said to have pocketed the amount.
A section of the MCAs, who spoke to Nairobi News after the meeting, claimed they were told President Kenyatta gave them Sh5.5 million to share among themselves for fuel and accommodation.
The MCAs were however just given about Sh500,000 to share among themselves, with the unnamed member allegedly pocketing the other Sh5 million.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses leaders from Meru County when he hosted them at State House, Nairobi. PHOTO | PSCU

Although the MCAs refused to be quoted, they said they ended up with between Sh 6,000 and Sh7,000 each for accommodation and transport.
“After the meeting we inquired if we could be refunded the money we had spent. Unfortunately we noted that some MPs had already signed for the same and left.
“We went to witness the signing of a bill into law that will help Meru people and that was exactly what we did. The rest is not very important and could be handled later,” he added.
Meru  ICT County Executive Martin Bikuri posted was the first to make the claims that the MCAs had been conned Sh5 million.
“Meru MPs go to State House and leave devolution conference going on tith over 5000 visitors in Meru. They are given Sh5.5m and mwagi thoni (Kimeru for uncouth person) with all his ill-gotten wealth runs away with 5m,” Mr Bikuri claimed.
Igoji West ward representative Kaumbuthu Chabari, who attended the State House meeting, disputed the claims terming them as propaganda from people who were out to tarnish the leaders’ names.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto with leaders from Meru County when he hosted them at State House, Nairobi. PHOTO | PSCU

“I was among the last to leave State house yet I never heard about any sh5 million. There are individuals who tried to bring out ‘KIKALI’ outfit versus Governor Peter Munya politics, but we agreed this was not a political meeting. I understand some people had met Mr Raila Odinga the previous night and hatched some propaganda to tarnish names,” Mr Chabari said.
KIKALI is a political outfit that brings together Senator Kiraitu Murungi, woman representative Florence Kajuju and Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi who have expressed interest for the Meru gubernatorial, woman representative and senatorial seats respectively in 2017 polls.
Mr Murungi led MPs and MCAs from the county in the visit to State House on Friday to witness the signing of a bill that recognizes miraa as a cash crop.