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Governor Ntutu dismisses MCA revolt over skewed projects, bursaries
Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu when he appeared before Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism at Parliament buildings Nairobi on Tuesday, May 28, 2024
What you need to know:
- Speaking in Emurua Dikirr on Sunday, the governor said the MCAs should stay away from his functions if they do not support his administration and should let him serve the people who elected him.
- “They should avoid the political drama they are used to in their own wards. If they can’t join us in identifying and funding development projects, they should let us engage with residents directly,” said Mr Ntutu.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu has fallen out with a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), who have accused him of skewed allocation of development funds and bursaries in the region.
The MCAs have also questioned the whereabouts of road construction equipment bought by the county at Sh1.48 billion, claiming that it has not been deployed to certain wards especially those represented by leaders perceived to be critics of the governor.
They also cited a lack of drugs in hospitals which they said has adversely affected the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to the detriment of residents.
The equipment bought by the county includes rollers, graders, excavators, lorries, fuel trucks, and tippers, all intended for use in opening roads in the 30 wards across the five constituencies of Narok North, Narok East, Narok West, Narok South, Kilgoris and Emurua Dikirr.
Five MCAs, Kipngeno Chepkwony (Mara), Ezekiel Koskei (Elkerin), Micah Ole Gerzo (Mosiro), Samwel Towett Tembur (Ololmasani), and Kipsang Mibei (Mogondo) said in Narok Town on Sunday that they have been “targeted by Mr Ntutu’s administration for standing firm and demanding fair allocation of resources to benefit people at the grassroots.”
The MCAs called on Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to conduct a special audit on the use of road construction equipment and the allocation of bursary funds.
“Unfortunately, while some beneficiaries are allocated Sh50,000 as capped by the assembly, others close to those in power receive as much as Sh100,000. We are being targeted and undermined in our own backyards,” Mr Chepkwony claimed.
He said the most affected constituencies are Narok South, Narok West, Kilgoris, and Emurua Dikirr areas mainly inhabited by members of one community that overwhelmingly supported Mr Ntutu in the last general election.
The MCAs also demanded that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigate suspected financial impropriety in the county. They alleged that taxpayer money is lining the pockets of a cartel involved in siphoning public funds.
The assembly allocates Sh400 million annually as bursaries for needy students in the six constituencies, with more than Sh1.2 billion disbursed in the last three financial years.
The MCAs claimed there is no proper public participation before funds are allocated to development projects and bursaries, denying the community its right to input.
“It is unfortunate that Governor Ntutu is using bursary funds as a tool to politically undermine MCAs especially those critical of his administration. We’ve become targets of physical attacks by political goons over the past two years, but we will not relent in fighting for the rights of those we represent,” said Mr Chepkwony.
They further accused Governor Ntutu of being “allergic to criticism” and said he had opened political warfare with Senator Ledama Ole Kina and MCAs calling for accountability.
“We elected the governor to lead development. MCAs have a constitutional mandate to provide oversight. Governor Ntutu does not want the assembly to scrutinise fund allocations or project implementation,” Mr Chepkwony said.
However, Governor Ntutu dismissed the accusations.
Speaking in Emurua Dikirr on Sunday, the governor said the MCAs should stay away from his functions if they do not support his administration and should let him serve the people who elected him.
“They should avoid the political drama they are used to in their own wards. If they can’t join us in identifying and funding development projects, they should let us engage with residents directly,” said Mr Ntutu.
“The MCAs have no development agenda and have chosen to isolate themselves. Still, we will continue to implement projects in all 30 wards. Already, we’ve constructed roads and hospitals even in areas whose leaders claim marginalisation. The hospitals are operational, and the roads are motorable,” he added.
