Tana River County employee arrested on suspicion of selling relief supplies

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested an assistant county commissioner of Tana River County on charges of stealing and reselling relief supplies.

Officials in Ganze County allegedly stole relief food donated to help the needy in the area and sold it to residents of Tana River.

The EACC disclosed that the relief food donated to help the sick, unemployed, elderly and other vulnerable populations is part of the central government's relief distribution program.

The donations, valued at Ksh552,000, have not yet been recovered as the committee works to determine the sale price.

The EACC has launched an investigation to determine the facts surrounding the incident and determine whether the officer carried out the act alone or in collaboration with other officers.

The deputy's arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, February 1st.

The comments came after Kitui County MPs criticized East African Community, Aridity and Regional Development Minister Penina Malonza for not lobbying for development in the drought-affected semi-arid region. This was in response to the criticism that it was humiliating to focus on distributing relief food.

Kitui Women's Representative Irene Casal said, “The Cabinet Secretariat needs to lobby for water projects, roads, high-quality health facilities, and jobs for the people in the semi-arid Ukambani region, but this disregard for food relief.'' That's not the problem,” he said.

Under the relief program, the government distributed food to residents of Mavoko constituency on January 24. Beneficiaries received 2 kg of beans and rice.

The government issued a warning to the public in December last year. Regarding the handling of relief supplies, it said it would take responsibility for any discrepancies reported during distribution.

Garissa residents in December Concerns arose due to failure to receive The relief food distributed by Vice President Ligachi Gachagua was expected to reach more than 20,000 people. people affected by floods This is caused by rain caused by the El Niño phenomenon.