Alfred Mutua Investigated By Anti-Corruption Commission For Spending Less Money Instead of Buying Fuel Guzzlers

Piece by: Kwarula Otieno
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Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has been investigated by EACC for refusing to buy luxurious gas guzzlers for his Government's ministers and instead buying cheaper, humble cars.

Whereas other Governors were buying cars worth 150 million Kshs, Mutua spent Ksh. 33M to buy 15 Subaru outback and a landcruiser V8 for use by his County ministers.

Sources who have seen the EACC files reveal, spent 33 million shillings and used the remaining money to purchase ambulances for his Machakos county.

"No money was lost," the source admits. "However, there was a letter from Senator Johnstone Muthama to investigate the purchases and procedures. So far there has been no signs of Mutua being involved in any corruption but the file, like many others, has remained open."

Mutua has refused to comment on the matter but earlier when the issue came up 17 months ago, he said that government money is for the poor and not luxuries and he will not be cowed to engage in deals that deprive tax payers their money.

"If saving money and directing every shilling to development and fighting poverty is corruption, then we have really lost the plot," he said when launching ambulances a year and a half ago.

So far, Machakos has the best emergency response time in Africa, with ambulances responding within 3 and 8 minutes of being called, similar to those og New York, London and Berlin. The sick, especially pregnant women, are no longer ferried by wheelbarrows and many lives are saved.

According to reports by the World Bank and the American National Democratic Institute, Machakos, under Governor Mutua is the leading county in austerity measures to save money and development.

"Machakos is a good example of devolution at work where money is used well for development," the report says. "Unfortunately, Governor Mutua's style is not common in Kenya and some agencies are yet to understand the concept by the Governor of value for money."