The Council of governors has defended their Busia counterpart Sospeter Ojaamong over the Sh20m fraud allegations, saying devolution is under threat.
“The Council takes offence in the way Ojaamong has been treated. His arrest has paralyzed operations of the county and the county has shut down completely,” Josephat Nanok said.
Ojaamong and three of his cabinet members were arrested and charged on Wednesday last week and later released on Sh1 million cash bail each.
Speaking when he addressed the media on Monday, Nanok said there are similar counties that are about to experience the same treatment.
“We are aware that there are similar counties that will experience the same. This is the end of devolution, slowly devolution is being eroded,” he said.
“Whereas the fight against corruption is inevitable, this fight cannot be politicized and cannot be used selectively to target specific officers. Governors are heads of governments and the war on corruption cannot be used to embarrass them.”
Nanok said it was improper to disguise ‘war on corruption’ as an avenue to settle political scores.
“In this regard the Council stands with the Governor. This sovereignty does not exist only at the national level, but must be extended to the heads of government at the County level,” he said.
Noting that the law is clear on the war on graft, Nanok questioned why key suspects in other major corruption scandals have not been arrested.
“The country has been aware of NYS and questions continue to linger on sugar and maize scandal.. the heads have never been arrested yet billions have been lost,” he said.
“Funds like CDF have attracted massive audit queries and there is no action taken.”
