Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani ‘shocked’ by graft allegations against him
What you need to know:
- Mr Yattani said he was not aware of any investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) linking him to graft.
- The governor said he read mischief and political machinations aimed at depicting him in bad light with intentions of damaging his political standing and undermining the county government.
- Mr Yatani is among 11 governors and other government officials who were on Thursday asked by President Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations.
- The county boss further accused EACC chief executive officer Halakhe Waqo who comes from the county of political witch hunt.
Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani Kanacho has defended himself over a report in which he is named and required to step aside to pave way for investigations over corruption allegations.
Mr Yattani said he was not aware of any investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) linking him to graft.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Mr Yatani said he was “dismayed and shocked beyond words” over the report.
The governor said he read mischief and political machinations aimed at depicting him in bad light with intentions of damaging his political standing and undermining the county government.
“To date I have never heard of any form of inquiry by EACC nor has it ever been brought to my attention that I or any member of my government was under investigation for any act of corruption.
“The rule of natural justice demands procedural fairness and the right to be heard. The move by the EACC is, therefore, in clear violation of the principles of natural justice.
“I stand firm and resilient in discharging my mandate without fear of intimidation and I challenge the EACC to provided evidence to support their defamatory and malicious allegations,” he said.
Mr Yatani is among 11 governors and other government officials who were on Thursday asked by President Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations.
BLAMED EACC BOSS
The county boss further accused EACC chief executive officer Halakhe Waqo who comes from the county of political witch hunt and of trying to advance his political mileage by linking him (Yatani) to corruption.
“The fact that the report is attributed to the head of secretariat of EACC, who himself is from this county and is allegedly preparing to run for the governor’s seat in the next election, is a clear indication that he is trying to use the commission to advance a political cause by maligning other competitors,” he said.
“Indeed, the commission secretary is on record as having publicly alleged using his position to both undermine and control the leadership of both Marsabit and Isiolo counties for the purposes of safeguarding his interests in the region.
“This unfortunate move is reminiscent of an event that happened early in the life of Marsabit County government where there was an attempt to dissolve it on the basis of insecurity and allegations of unfairness in resource distribution ostensibly furthered by his office,” Mr Yatani added.
The county boss reiterated that he leads a government that operates in accordance with the law.
He assured Marsabit residents that his government had done its best to end corruption and in dealing with any allegations of misappropriation of funds in the county.
He added that he would not be swayed from discharging his duties by the report which is expected to be made public on Tuesday next week.
