A Kilifi County government driver is in police custody after he was arrested using a  government Drum Road roller to carry out a private business.
The arrest of the staff was in line with Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s plans to end rampant  misuse of county resources.
Addressing reporters in his office, the Governor said members of the public raised an alarm over a roller that was doing a road project in Tezo ward, Kilifi North constituency.
“Members of the public raised an alarm after noticing the roller which is a government property carrying out a private assignment. Police were alerted and swung into action, arresting it’s operator who is the county employee. He is currently in police custody,” said the Governor. He further said that the affected individual will face disciplinary action which will either interdiction or dismissed from work.
“I have directed the County Secretary Mr Arnold Mkare to take action against the officer. We will not allow this to happen under my watch. Work discipline must be exercised at all times,” he said.
Mr Mung’aro said he had received a number of complaints from the public concerning misconduct of county corrupt officials who have taken hostage all county services, promising a robust reforms in his administration that will see many of them sacked for gross misconduct.
“In the case of the arrested officer, it doesn’t beat logic that a contractor gets a job from the county government and then the same contractor and instead of getting his or her own equipment to do the job, colludes with corrupt officers from the department, gets fuel and drivers from the same department and then demand payment from the same government. This is corruption of the highest order. We know this has been happening but soon, most of these corrupt individuals will not be in office,” he said.
The Governor has he was also investigating a case where some officers from the health department are diverting drugs and services from the county health facilities to their own private clinics, warning them that their days are numbered.
“I have also received information from members of the public that there are officers who divert drugs and medicines meant for the public hospitals to their own clinics. This is not allowed and soon we shall crack the whip. We can’t allow this to continue,” the Governor said.
Confirming the arrest of the county employee, Kilifi County Police Commander Nelson Taliti said the driver was arrested following a tip from members of the public.
“Police were informed by members of the public about the roller that was doing a road in Tezo. We discovered that indeed it was a county government property but the number plate had been removed to allow a fraud to take place. We arrested the operator and is now in police custody,” said Mr Taliti.
The police commander said they had earlier on arrested six vehicles that were being used for personal duties yet they were government vehicles.
“We arrested the vehicles and some of those officers who were using the vehicles might be taken to court once our investigations are over,” said Mr Taliti.
Mr Taliti told members of the public to be on the watch out for any county official engaging in illegal activities and corruption.
When he was sworn in, Governor Mung’aro promised a number of reforms in his administration, including to sack rogue and corrupt county staffs who had dented the image of the county.
“If you know that you are corrupt, then rest assured, you will never serve in this government. We shall work on this one seriously,” he said.
