Rasanga faces court in Siaya air tickets scam

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has recommended prosecution of Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga for using taxpayers’ money to buy holiday air tickets for his family and friends.

Mr Rasanga is alleged to have paid a mix of business, economy and first class tickets for his wife, children, relatives and political friends.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Agency (EACC) recommended prosecution of the governor for abuse of office and unlawful acquisition of a benefit.

“Investigations established that the county government of Siaya, on instructions of the governor, paid for the air tickets for his family members and friends in the financial years 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016,” said the EACC in its quarterly report published in the latest Kenya Gazette.

The EACC recommended that Mr Rasanga be charged for embezzlement of public funds alongside officers at the county for the offences committed during the first three years of his first term in office.

EACC took up the matter following revelations by Auditor General-Edward Ouko that the county spent Sh141 million irregularly contrary to the Public Finance Management Act and other regulations.

The DPP accepted the recommendations by the EACC on June 7 to prosecute the county boss alongside his accomplices.

This comes barely four months after Mr Rasanga sent packing more than 50 staff for alleged involvement in corruption and inefficiency.

The county boss said employees the department of Finance and Planning are on compulsory leave as part of his latest efforts to sanitise the unit.

He promised it was only the beginning and that the purge would be extended to all departments in a bid to weed out corrupt officers in his government.