This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 23, 2020, a scandal involving Sh6.9 million rocked Bungoma County, with three ministers at the center of the storm. The county assembly committee on health had investigated the case, naming Antony Walela (health), Richard Sabwami (public administration), and Esther Wamalwa of finance and economics planning as the culprits.
According to John Waluke, the Jubilee party Bungoma branch chairman, the three ministers had been implicated in inflating the price of 600 jerricans from Sh1,400 each to Sh10,000 for the 120 litres container. The county ministry's bank account had withdrawn Sh11 million to purchase the jerricans and other materials required to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Waluke questioned the slow response of the local Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission office in arresting the culprits, despite having enough evidence to prove the scandal. He also called for an investigation into the county ministry of education and the county ministry of gender and sports, where a chief officer had authorized the disposal of public property at Masinde Muliro Stadium a year ago, with some Sh2 million from the proceeds allegedly pocketed.
With the majority of MCAs set to back the impeachment motion, Governor Wycliffe Wangamati's fate hangs in the balance. The impeachment process has been worked on, with a top lawyer drafting the petition to be brought before the assembly by an MCA.
