Former Machakos Governor and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr. Alfred Mutua found himself in a tight spot during the ongoing vetting by the Appointments committee.
Ugunja constituency MP Opiyo Wandayi asked to him clarify on Maruba dam desilting said to have cost the County Government of Machakos 89 million yet nothing was done in the dam. The legislator also sought answers on the procurement of 16 second-hand vehicles.
“I want to specifically address two issues with regard to Machakos County under your tenure as the Governor. One issue that has been investigated and we are yet to see the outcome of the investigations is the scandal concerning dams, there is a dam named Maruba where the county government of Machakos spent a whooping 89 Million without anything being done,” Wandayi questioned.
“This was meant to go towards desilting of the dam, this was paid out and nothing was done in addition the Danish Development agency pumped in 16Million without anything being done. I want you to update this committee on what became of this project, how much money was pumped in and what the investigative agencies have to say about it, and what measures are being taken over the issue,” he added.
In Response, Mutua said, “On Maruba dam, I was never questioned or anything brought to me about the dam, I think somebody wrote a petition about it, all I know is as Maruba dam was being scooped, I went and witnessed the work being done. And I think the investigative bodies if they are investigating, let them do their work. But I know the work was done.”
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule also questioned the Former Governor over pending bills of 2.8B incurred by his regime,
“It is in the public domain that the Government you led of Machakos county, as we speak right now it has one of the biggest debts in the country of Ksh 2.8 billion. Kindly try to convince this committee whether that was not a failure in your management.” Matungulu MP Stephen Mule said.
“It was very clear how the money will be paid and how the pending bills were accumulated. We were dealing with the first ten years of devolution” Mutua responded.