Suspended Speaker of Elgeyo Marakwet county Assembly Albert Kochei resumed duty yesterday after staying in the cold for more than 90 days after he was mentioned alongside 175 public and State officials in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission ‘list of shame’.
Kochei arrived in his official car in the morning to a heroic welcome by hundreds of Iten town residents who held demos before escorting him to the office as police watched from a distance.
Addressing the public, Kochei said since he was summoned by the EACC Eldoret regional office to record statement in connection with alleged embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office but no action has been taken since then.
“I have been waiting for action to be taken against me over the matter but nothing has been forthcoming from the anti-graft body. That is why I have decided to resume my duty because all the allegation levelled against me were all malice and propaganda out to malign my image,” said Kochei.
The Speaker is facing myriad of corruption allegations ranging from misappropriation of Sh6 million meant for construction of County Assembly gate and cafeteria.
The County Assembly last week voted by acclamation to reinstate the embattled Speaker who has been on suspension over President Uhuru Kenyatta’s infamous list of shame probe by the EACC where the mentioned officials were directed to step aside for 60 days period to pave way for investigations.
Soon after the passage of the controversial Speaker’s reinstatement motion, the House got divided with 15 out of the 30 MCAs supporting the reinstatement as the other faction warned him not to resume duty.
Endo Ward MCA Festus Kirop who is opposed to the move said they will not allow the suspended Speaker to preside the House before he is cleared of the corruption case by the anti-corruption agency.
“We care about the integrity of the County Assembly and its image to the public and we cannot be party to the decision to reinstate the Speaker,” he said.
Metkei Ward Rep Daniel Chirchir defended Kochei saying he should be allowed to resume duty and spared the humiliation, adding that he did not have to remain in the cold for long after the lapse of the 60 days President Uhuru asked EACC to carry out the investigations.
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