A group of youths from Balambala Constituency, Garissa County, have called on investigative agencies to investigate corruption allegations in the constituency that were allegedly perpetuated by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) kitty.
The Danyere Youth Group, under Mr. Ismail Bilal’s stewardship, has received development funds for Balambala constituency through ghost projects.
” We request that the Balambala Member of Parliament (MP) and his NG-CDF Committee face consequences for their blatant corruption.
Mr. Bilal stated, “We have a ghost project in the constituency that we paid for but did not complete.”
He cited the construction of an 80-bed dormitory at Danyere Secondary School in the 2021-2022 financial year, as well as water piping in the area, as major projects used to syphon public funds.
According to the financial documents for 2021/2022, our area MP, Abdi Omar Shurie, claimed through NG-CDF to have completed and put into use an 80-bed dormitory at Danyere Secondary School for Ksh 5 million.
However, no such dormitory exists at the school,” he said.
“The MP claims to have constructed a four-door pit latrine for Ksh 700,000 and to have purchased 80 double-decker steel beds and 160 mattresses for Ksh 1.8 million for the same school, but there is nothing,” he continued.
The NG-CDF committee is also accused of squandering at least Ksh 750,000 on the purchase of 120 lockers and chairs, items that never arrived at the school.
According to the youths, Balambala NG-CDF claimed to have constructed a one-kilometre water piping system at a cost of Sh1 million, but the residents remain thirsty.
“There is nothing like a water piping system in that part of the world. Institutional leaders in the constituency participated in the well-schemmed allocation and looting of public funds, according to Mr. Bilal.
According to reports, Dogob Primary School lost another Ksh 200,000 on the purchase of two 5000-litre water tanks.
“These are all blatant lies, as he has neither provided nor constructed any of the items he claims to have.” These are just a few examples of the public money looting he has done. We want action taken against the MP and his NG-CDF board,” he said.
The group claims that the NG-CDF committee and school board members worked together to channel funds through the Danyere Secondary School account and withdraw them.
The group has since raised the matter with the EACC, AOG, and NG-CDF boards but has yet to get a response.
When reached, EACC North Eastern Regional Coordinator Robert Kanyi confirmed receiving a complaint from the residents.
“That Balambala constituency issue is with us, and investigations are ongoing.” Mr. Kanyi stated, “It is about development projects at Danyare Secondary School that the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has started.”
