West Pokot governor John Lonyangapuo was on Tuesday grilled the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) following allegations of irregular use of public funds by the county's deputy governor.
The governor was summoned to appear before the EACC North Rift offices in Eldoret after a group of locals in the county wrote a petition calling for the investigations into the matter.
According to EACC North Rift Executive Director Jackson Mue, a group of locals from Makutano had wrote a petition to them claiming that the county government of West Pokot was still paying salaries to deputy governor Dr Nicholas Atudonyang who has been abroad for over six months now.
Dr Atudinyanga who doubles up as the Health County Executive is a neurosurgeon and it is claimed he is still employed in the US.
"We summoned the governor after we received the petition from locals who claimed the deputy governor is not working yet the county is paying him a salary among other benefits," said Mue.
After several hours of grilling, governor Lonyangapuo later addressed the press outside the EACC offices and said that the deputy governor who is currently in the US was on official duty and has been earning his basic salary.
The county boss, however, dismissed claims that his deputy is using public funds through air tickets and allowances to move around while in the states.
Lonyangapuo also refuted reports that he had been arrested.
“I have not been arrested but was summoned by the EACC to come and tell them about the whereabouts of my deputy governor. Those are just propaganda made by my political enemies who want to tarnish my name,” he said.
Several other top West Pokot county officials including the deputy governor are also expected to appear before EACC as investigations into the allegations continue.
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