Laikipia West Member of Parliament Patrick Mariru is having hard time to explain to youths where he diverted the Sh 7.5 million allocated to nature talents within the constituency
According to information availed to safinews.co.ke on Wednesday 15th June, is that since 2017, the MP has been scooping Sh 1.5 million for sports kitty from the annual budget of NG-CDF allocation which is more than Sh 130 million annually
“No youth in the whole constituency has ever benefited from the Ksh 1.5Million sports kitty, which is scooped from CDF funds annually, the portion was meant to boost sports at the grassroots and nurture talents.
We don’t know where it went. Laikipia West constituents are really pleading for our MP to tell us where is the money for youths,” George Gitonga from Marmanet Ward asked
The youths have now demanded candidates aspiring to be Member of Parliament in Laikipia West constituency to make sure that the said allocation is benefiting the identified groups
“Please those aspiring for the seat the likes of @Sarol @Irungu Mtu10 @Hon Wachira Karani @IBRAHIM NGUGI KAGOMBE and the rest,we all know that the outgoing leadership was an enemy of our youths.
For the one who will get into that office, make sure the youths are busy engaged from the fruits of that kitty, make sure to do an extra effort and plead with the government and parliament to allocate more funds on the CDF fund to boost sports and nurture talents at the grassroots,” They added
On a quick response, David Wachira affirmed that they are still following on the matter and the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) are handling the matter.
“The relevant investigating agencies; DCI, EACC are on working on the matter and the CDF Board will be enjoined this week,” Wachira assured.
They also took issue with the Youth Enterprise Fund asserting that they don’t know how it has been utilised for the past five years and whether the thirty percent reserved for tenders is awarded to youths and people living with disabilities (PWDs) in the constituency
Our efforts to reach him to confirm or deny the allegations ravelled against him went unanswered as of yesterday, before going to the press, as we sought him through phone calls and messages.
The MP who has been in the National Assembly’s Speaker’s panel was privileged as a first term legislator, with all benefits in the lucrative position.
He is currently running for gubernatorial position in Laikipia County on a United Democratic Alliance ticket come August 9th General Election