Sh 700 million assembly scandal returns to haunt Kilifi gubernatorial aspirant

The corruption ghosts revolving around the building of the Kilifi County Assembly building have refused to let go off speaker Jimmy Kahindi who is eying to succeed Governor Amason Kingi.

The construction of the multi-million structure raised eyebrows, prompting the Controller of Budget to question its pricing.

The assembly structure is said to have been overpriced to almost double figures in an unprecedented looting spree of it’s kind.

Sources indicate that Kahindi is facing a series of other corruption allegations,among them manipulation of tenders through the county assembly service board and being a key surrogate to the web of cartels that have defrauded the Kilifi County government billions of taxpayers money.

His gubernatorial ambitions have been questioned by professionals and religious groups in the county,with opponents demanding to know his source of campaign funds.

Those who are pushing for a total clean up at the county and the assembly as well have opined that he should not be allowed to get anywhere near the ballot.

” For Kilifi County to progress, we must only have people with a clean truck record and those with questionable character should not be allowed on the ballot,” Alfha Kazungu, a representative of University students said.

They students claim that cartels who have held the county hostage for the last 9 years are regrouping behind certain candidates to maintain the status quo at the assembly.

They have asked the ODM party to carefully vet it’s candidate, noting that Kilifi,just like the rest of coast counties is eager for better and transparent leadership.

Mr Kahindi’s troubles have also spanned into his social life where allegations of his scandalous escapades with women.

Several women have complained of having sired kids with him only for to be dumped later.

His political campaigns for the county’s top seat have also been docked with controversy and violence.

He has been accused for the violence that was recently witnessed during a delegates meeting.

The meeting hosted over 1,000 delegates and aspirants including Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi.

But things got chaotic when his supporters triggered a fistfight with supporters from other camps.

The delegates meeting was organised to sensitise candidates, on the upcoming party primaries.

The handful of Jimmy Kahindi’s supporters started the dram when former devolution CAS Gideon Munga’ro took to the stage to the excitement of the electrified crowd.

Both candidates arrived separately backed by their supporters.

Mung’aro arrived first, almost the same time Kilifi ODM chairman Teddy Mwambire came in.

But when Kahindi’s supporters got violent, Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu who was the MC urged them to avoid fighting for politicians.

The ODM officials told the aspirants about the party nomination rules, payment modes to enable them to prepare early

Mwambire who was chairing the meeting said by there are five gubernatorial aspirants in the ODM party, in the county.

He said former assistant minister Francis Baya had hinted at joining the gubernatorial race on an ODM ticket.

However, residents have been told not to vote in corrupt individuals.

About The Author