Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has responded to reports that she is stranded in the United Kingdom (UK) after foreign banks blocked her from depositing funds in Kenyan currency.
Allegations emerged that authorities in London declined the transaction, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the funds.
Governor Ndeti in a statement on September 9, 2024, responded to the reports and told off her political critics claiming they were out to distract her from delivering to the electorate.
Terming the criticisms as political propaganda, Ndeti said she was focused and hence she won’t be distracted.
“My attention has been drawn to an online smear campaign designed and sponsored, by my political detractors. This campaign is aimed at dampening the impact of the transformative work we are doing in Machakos,” said Wavinya Ndeti.
While responding to allegations that she has smuggled hundreds of millions of shillings through her son to the UK and that she has been detained, governor Ndeti said that it is demeaning and an insult to the intelligence of the people of Machakos and Kenya.
Wavinya Ndeti reads malice in viral reports
Ndeti further argued that those fabricating falsity are clearly ignorant of the robust nature of UK Customs/Border Control and Financial Institutions.
Also Read: Former Governor Sentenced After Being Found Guilty in Ksh83 Million Case
On the other hand, the Machakos governor has maintained that she shall identify, pursue, and bring before the law all those spreading the allegations.
She termed them as baseless rumors and fake news, adding that it amounts to defamation and misuse of electronic media to spread falsehoods.
“Such malicious misinformation has created perceptions about me and my family members that endanger our lives. Let the authors of this narrative be warned that should anything happen to any member of my family or myself, you shall be held personally responsible,” said the governor.
“I can confirm that my family and I are safe and sound and remain in good standing both home and abroad. Lastly, I encourage those spewing these fabrications to arm themselves with hard evidence when the law comes knocking.”
Wavinya Ndeti maintained that she shall not be distracted in her quest to better the livelihoods of the people of Machakos.
She highlighted that her administration is closing in on nearly 1000 projects from August 2022 and that in FY 2023/2024, the County collected Ksh1.78 Own Source Revenue.
According to her, this is the highest revenue ever collected in Machakos since the inception of devolution.
Allegations
The governor was forced to clear the air following allegations that she was stranded in the UK after banks declined a transaction involving millions of shillings, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the funds.
Also Read: Wavinya Ndeti Addresses Allegations of Splashing Hundreds of Millions on Lawyers
It was alleged that governor Wavinya’s son was arrested in possession of Ksh679 million and that he was detained after failing to provide a satisfactory explanation of how he acquired such a substantial amount of money.
In addition, the allegations opined that the governor informed UK authorities that the funds were meant for the Machakos County Government in a bid to resolve the matter.
“She claimed that the money was earmarked for the construction of a Level 5 hospital for Machakos residents living abroad. However, the UK authorities remain unconvinced, leading to further complications in her efforts to bank the money,” the allegations read in part.
It was also alleged that it was not the first time governor Wavinya has faced challenges banking large sums of money overseas, with the allegations stating that she has previously deposited millions in countries such as Dubai, China, and France.
The Machakos governor has recently been feted as the best County head in the Eastern Region during the ETA Awards held on Saturday, September 7 at the Semara Hotel in Machakos County.
Wavinya Ndeti succeeded Labor Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua as Machakos governor after winning the 2022 elections and is among the seven female governors in Kenya.
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