Three Garissa MCAs trip criticized as waste of money

Members of the Garissa county Assembly during their swearing in in September 2017. (Courtesy)

GARISSA—Three Garissa MCAs- Including majority leader Mahat Osma (Jarajila),Minority leader Mohamed Ali Sheikh( Abakaile) and deputy speaker Mohamed Abass trip to london has been criticized as a waste of money by Garissa residents.

Speaking to the press Northern Forum for Democracy coordinator, Mr. Khalif Abdi said the trip by the MCAs comes at a time when residents  with other bigger pressing problems like acute water shortage.

“Both the county government and the assembly have started on a wrong foot because it doesn’t make sense for people to use a lot of money to go for trips,  which are of no benefit to mwananchi.” Khalif said.

Mr. Khalif, who is also a human right activist said devolution was meant to uplift marginalized counties but the county administration have been wasting funds shamelessly.

The three are currently in London to attend a training at the House of Commons.

He further noted that the taxpayer funds used in the trip could have been spent on drought relief for the arid county instead.

This also comes at a time when the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission has launched investigations in some counties administrations like Kisii county for massive bribery in employment.

Khalif criticized the EACC as a toothless dog that growls but is unable to fight corruption in the country.