News
Thursday, October 11, 2001

Mayor cautioned over Raila links

A National Development Party official has accused Kisumu Mayor Shakeel Ahmed Shabir of using the name of Energy Minister Raila Odinga to intimidate his chief officers.

Mr Dave Okwatch, the party's Kisumu branch chairman, told Councillor Shabir to "stop rushing to Mr Odinga" for protection whenever he had differences with other civic leaders and council employees.

"I am asking Cllr Shabir to stop bothering Mr Odinga with petty council issues, which can be handled by the Ministry of Local Government," Mr Okwatch told a Moi Day rally in the town, which was also attended by Nyanza Provincial Commissioner John Nandasaba, Kisumu District Commissioner Andrew Mondoh and Cllr Shabir.

"I am cautioning the mayor to tread carefully. He should not be used to antagonise public servants. He should not be pushed to sack everybody because he could be the next to go," said Mr Okwatch.

Cllr Shabir recently mobilised councillors to eject Town Clerk Tubman Otieno and Treasurer Ali Apidi over alleged mismanagement of council finances, a decision that Local Authorities Minister Joseph Kamotho and PS Joshua Terer have since nullified.

Mr Nandasaba and Mr Mondoh called on Cllr Shabir to end the wrangling over the town's refurbished bus park so that it could be opened to the public.