The election of Nyamira Senator Mong’are Okong’o on Wednesday as chairperson of PAC has elicited sharp reaction amongst public figures from his backyard.
Okong’o garnered eight votes against three of his top challenger and immediate former chair Bonny Khalwale of Kakamega to take over the leadership of the watchdog committee.
Speaking to the reporter on phone, county assembly majority whip Peter Maroro termed the move as ridiculous and disappointing, blaming Mr Okong’o of allegedly failing to lead by example as the area senator.
“I am shocked that Senate could trust him with such a sensitive committee. The action was ridiculous and disappointing. He (Mong’are) is the reason why our county has not fast tracked a number of key projects due to his endless wars with the county assembly. Previously, he used to make claims about massive wastage in the county assembly without substantiating. I really wonder how this will work out,” he said.
Minority leader Jackson Mogusu accused the Senator of being sabotage to development and questioned his alleged role in donating inkless pens and counterfeit drugs to the county.
“He is never transparent in the way he executes his obligations. The committee needs leadership that can soberly interrogate accountability issues rising from county units and not people who believe in rumors. He is on record for making several claims about overspending in Nyamira and has never substantiated the claims. We still have pending issues on inkless pens which he is yet to answer,” he said.
However, Mong’are who spoke separately to this reporter on phone, said his leadership will ensure auditor general’s reports are interrogated and investigated to shade light on controversial spending.
“I am a strong believer of devolution and that is why committee members trusted me with the leadership. I will pick from where Bonnie (Khalwale) left. The committee will defend devolution at all costs by interrogating the Auditor General’s report to shade lights on controversial spending. I don’t really care what people talk of me because that’s a non-issue,” he said.