Hawk-eyed citizens in Mandera County have raised alarm over the suspected misuse of public property after a government vehicle was spotted on the campaign trail of a prominent politician in the area.
A source who reached out to this blog on Tuesday, 31 May reliably tipped us that the white Toyota Surf was donated by the World Bank to the Kenyan government and attached to the Ministry of Livestock and Agriculture.
The vehicle was initially registered under the plate number [GKB439W] but the current illegitimate custodian has reportedly swapped it to KBT 439W to avoid being found out. "Hi, Nyakundi, GKB 439W attached to Ministry of Livestock & Agriculture, donated by World Bank. Currently, the number is faked to KBT 439W. This government vehicle is doing campaigns around Mandera. Something should be done about it. The current Governor and his brigade," the source writes. This comes hardly a week after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) directed that government vehicles and other state resources illegally deployed by politicians in campaigns be impounded.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati also ordered governors, deputy governors, Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to provide an inventory of resources at their disposal by virtue of their positions.
The directive was inspired by an incident where Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa branded a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) vehicle in United Democratic Alliance (UDA) colours, his photos and those of Deputy President William Ruto.
He had also removed the GK registration plates and affixed the registration number KBS 709D.