A group of youth in Wajir defend governor Ahmed over corruption allegations

NAIROBI—A group of youths in Wajir County have come out to insulate Governor Ahmed Abdullahi of the allegations leveled against him by six petitioners who called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to suspend the county government of Wajir citing high level corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
Wajir youth for Action( WAYA) termed the allegation as baseless, saying the governor was performing as per his mandate.
” The petition against Ahmed Abdullahi and the county Government is malicious, false and is based on unfounded litany of allegations ostensibly to malign, blackmail, and tarnish the image and reputation of his the Governor and the county Government to purposely serve a predetermined political interest,” it said.
They added that the governor’s performance was noticed by the World Bank and that the people of Wajir were happy with his leadership.

Ahmed Adan, the chairman of the Wajir Youth for Action.

“We wish to categorically state that Wajir county Government has recorded massive prudent use of resources, effectively delivered devolved functions and is burgeoning under the leadership of the able Governor. From the available World Bank rating of counties and Auditor General’s report, he (governor) conducts the county affairs in the most transparent manner,” said Ahmed Adan, the chairman of the group.

Six petitioners last week presented their application to the Senate Committee on Finance headed by Mandera CountySenator, Billow Kerrow. The petitioners requested the committee to direct the Controller of Budget and the National Treasury to stop the supply of funds to Wajir County government.

The petitioners seeking to suspend the release of cash to the county government are Mahammed Abikar, Abdi Abdinur, Abdifatah Diriye, Amed Sabdow, Abukari Sheikh and Johara Hussein.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Kerrow assured that all parties mentioned in the petition would be summoned. Among them is the county governor of Wajir, Ahmed Abdullahi, The Comptroller of budget and officials from the Treasury in a bid to determine the case.

The governor, in his Madaraka Day speech at Moi Stadium in Wajir, called the group “a gun for hire”, saying they were being used by unnamed MP from the county to settle a political score.