Prof Lunyangapuo Led West Pokot County Spent Sh300Million On Boreholes Constructed By An NGO

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating West Pokot County’s Water Department for embezzlement of Sh300 million meant to construct boreholes that had already been set up by Pokot Outreach Ministries, a non-governmental organisation operating in the large Pokot area.

EACC sleuths drawn from Eldoret and Nairobi offices stormed and seized assorted documents from the Kapenguria offices. Some staffs at the Water Department who are implicated in the payment of the dubious projects have recorded their statements.

“I want to confirm to you that we shall be summoning several senior staff from the water section including the immediate water chief executive officer Milka Psiwa to shed light on how they spent the money,” the official told Citizen Weekly journos in Kapenguria shortly after visiting the officers in focus.

Governor Lonyangapuo

“For sure, nobody will be spared once we are through with the investigations that will see several personnel facing the wrath of the law,” the official from the EACC said, adding that the investigations were at an advanced stage.

According to EACC reports, Officials from the Water Department spent funds from West Pokot County funds with documents stating that they had drilled boreholes at Kacheliba, Kapenguria, Sigor and some parts of Chepareria. Each borehole is said to have swallowed over Sh15 million.

“We want the West Pokot governor John Lonyangapou to tell us on which criteria did the county government use to pay money on projects that had already been funded by his organisation,” Rev Julius Murgor, the director of the non-governmental organisation that has been involved in the drilling of boreholes 

“How can the County Government pay Sh 300 million that is supposed to be public fund to projects that we have already been completed with our own funds?” Rev Murgor asked.

In his defense, Governor Lonyangapou, after jetting in from America where he had gone on an official trip while accompanying Milka Psiwa who then was heading the department in question before being moved to the health docket, said that he was not aware that funds from his County had been used to pay the said projects. The talkative governor added that those involved should prepare to carry their own cross.

Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto, Kacheliba MP Mark Lomolokol and his Sigor counterpart Peter Lochakapong have while commenting on the issue, stated that those implicated in the loot should be prosecuted.

West Pokot county Speaker Catherine Mukenyang also urged that those involved in the looting of public funds should not be spared by the law. Her statement was seconded by Senator Samuel Poghisio who challenged Lonyangapou to come out clean over the fraud.

Rev John Lodinyo of Kiwawa parish said it is time those involved were made to face the law with immediate effect. With former-immediate, West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin said that those involved should be in jail.