A day after reports emerged that at least nine MCAs from Nyamira County Assembly were being paid despite being absent from an ongoing conference in Mombasa, two of them have come out and refuted the claims.
It’s alleged that the nine MCAs had been paid hefty allowances but could not be traced on Thursday during morning sessions in Mombasa.
But speaking separately to the reporter, Kiabonyoru MCA James Sabwengi and Deputy Speaker Andrew Magangi have refuted the claims and accused people behind the report of being malicious.
“I am in charge of budget committee and one of the things we are discussing here is budget and allocations. I was the first person to be in Mombasa and those circulating propagandas are being guided by malice,” he said on phone from Mombasa.
“My integrity cannot allow me to get allowances through pretense because that isn’t my character. I am determined to ensure transparency in spending so it’s really ironical that I could be part of that cocoon obtaining allowances through pretending,” he added.
Magangi on his side defended his absence saying he had been assigned by the assembly to oversee a funeral ceremony in Magombo on Wednesday.
It’s true I didn’t attend Thursday’s functions because I was on my way from Nyamira. I was presiding over a funeral ceremony where the County government t had to attend because the deceased was one of us. I don’t see a big deal in that,” he said.