By Nelson Musungu, Bungoma
Bungoma Ford Kenya MCAs, led by Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa, have stood in solidarity with embattled former governor Wycliffe Wangamati, who faces accusations of embezzling public funds during his tenure as Bungoma governor between 2017 and 2022
Speaking to the press at the Bungoma County Assembly offices, Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa said leaders cannot be overwhelmed by the fact that former Governor Wycliffe Wangamati is facing a fraud case at the EACC.
“As leaders, we can never rejoice when a fellow leader is dragged to court,” Nyongesa noted. “However, those in office must remain vigilant and ensure proper accountability of public resources. Power is temporary, and no one should use their influence while in office to loot public funds.”
However, the 11 MCAs present asked governor Wangamati to drug the Speaker of the National assembly in his graft war terming at as an escape route to account for public funds and seek sympathy to Bungoma voters
We are calling on the former governor to respect the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly,” Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa emphasized. “That office has no influence over either the EACC or the ODPP, which ordered the arrest of Governor Wangamati. Independent institutions should be allowed to do their work, and Wangamati must not drag our party leader, Moses Masika Wetangula, into his woes. He should instead face the law to its full course.”
The MCAs noted that the program of asset recovery started back in 2021 when Wangamati was still a governor and the current speaker was a Bungoma senator who had been reprieved of the position of the minority leader in the senate
“This asset recovery programme started back in 2021 when Wangamati was the governor and Wetangula was just a senator, we are aware of what the former governor did during the Covid 19 time, if you ever mention “the Mitungi saga” every resident knows that it was Wangamati who was involved in it.” He added. Let us own up our mistakes and stop playing with the people of Bungoma because they are aware of what is going on in the county.”
The MCAs cautioned Wangamati to stop bringing the Bungoma gubernatorial race in the case he is facing terming it dead on arrival
The MCAs noted that the companies which were involved in the proxies were mentioned and the former governor is accused of conflict of interest as the directors of the companies are his close family members and friends.
The majority leader reminded Wangamati of the previous regime where some MCAs were given money meant for emergency services during Covid 19 time
“We vividly remember when your regime gave some MCAs money meant to rescue the people of the then corona but you diverted and shared with your so called diehards.” That was when EACC knew of your rogue regime and started following you.” He said
The mcas agreed unanimously that if EACC wants more information concerning the case of Wangamati they are ready to mention everything starting with the scholarship program
If EACC wants us to give some information, then we are very much available to share out what we know about the previous regime and how they siphoned the county’s resources,” said George Makari an MCA representing Musikoma ward
Wangamati has previously claimed that his troubles are politically initiated, alleging that Wetang’ula is behind the schemes to undermine him ahead of the 2027 Bungoma gubernatorial race, where Wetang’ula’s brother and Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi is eying the seat
Today governor Wangamati appeared before the court with his 10 co-accused persons and was released on 1.5 million cash bail, his case will be mentioned on 18th this month
