By MN Reporter

MCA’s from Migori County have said shs 135M meant for their travel and allowances was stolen.

This is after the Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo last week placed Migori County among 14 counties across the country that had allowances increase in their expenditure.

The report said Migori MCA’s received sh 20 million in the first quarter of financial year 2018/19 on foreign travel.

According to the report, each member was paid sh 121,026 in sitting allowances contrary to sh 80,000 as recommended by Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

In an interview with the press in Migori town, the members said the report by the Controller of Budget was shocking and that they had not received the stated money in allowances.

The members Hevron Maira (Muhuru Bay), Thomas Akungo (Kaler), Elias Nyahure (Isebania) and Mwita Motangi (Nyabasi East) urged on the EACC and the DCI to move in on the culprits.

“We are shocked that Sh135million was spent in Migori assembly, as members we have never seen the money in our accounts and need anti-corruption agencies to arrest the culprits,” Maira said.

“People both in the assembly and the executive forged our signatures, we are sure the number of travels for members can’t reach the amount,” Motangi said.

The four legislators said within that period the only outside travel by ‘a handful of members’ were in Morocco, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

“We need Migori residents to know that their money has never reached assembly members, some people ate the money and left us as members alone,” Motangi said.

 Akungo, said members have been patient, but the report exposed the rot at the County Assembly.

“Member of the public can now see how Migori is managed as a personal kitty where money is giving to those who are favourable to the system,”

He added, “How can million be paid when some of us were denied sitting allowances?”

Nyahure said the report is a pointer on how what is budgeted in the assembly is never utilized.

Attempts to get a comment from assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth and clerk Tom Opere failed up to the time of going to the press.

The reaction by MCAs comes amidst reports of discrimination against a number of them viewed as being against Governor Okoth Obado and Speaker Boaz Okoth.

For instance, in December all 40 wards were allocated funds for organising sports, but 14 were never allocated funds.

In November last year these MCA’s broke into the education department and carted away bursary files after being denied the same.

“In both cases of bursary and the sports, executives and chief officers in  charge said they were given a list from senior members of Migori. We need answers as members over favourtism,” Nyahure said.