This tweet claims that the Kericho County Assembly leader or majority, has made outrageous demands for privileges via a letter that is attached to the claim. The claim states: “County majority leader wants Tax Payers (sic) to buy him ab (sic) iPhone 14 pro max, US Luxurious vehicle Cadillac Escalade, Ksh.177k weekly allowance, 4 Police officers, Ksh. 350K for hospitality amongst other benefits.” The letter has also been shared on this archived tweet.
Background
The Kericho County Assembly is reportedly embroiled in a power struggle pitting the legislative arm of the County government against the executive arm.
The “majority leader” Paul Korir, the purported signee of the document above, is caught in the middle of the powerplay with Londiani Member of Parliament Vincent Korir stating he was in charge, after being reinstated by the United Democratic Alliance Party.
This also comes against the backdrop of scrutiny of the County occasioned by a letter by Kericho County Assembly speaker approving a workshop for 47 Members of County Assembly at Weston Hotel in Nairobi. The workshop was said to cost the taxpayer 2.6 million shillings.
Verification
Salaries and privileges of all state officers, including Members of County Assemblies, are determined by the Salaries and Remuneration Committee (SRC). This means that MCAs are in no way able to request for the outlined privileges as highlighted in the letter.
Piga Firimbi has established that the letter shared in the post is fake. The letter has been edited using signatures and a stamp lifted off an authentic letter issued by Kericho County Assembly (see below)
Piga Firimbi reached out to the Public Relations Officer of Kericho County Assembly, Priscah Mosonik, who confirmed to us that the letter doing rounds on social media is fake and that the County Assembly is to issue an official statement soon. This was also confirmed by Chirchir, implicated as the signee of the letter, who told us that the letter was forged and intended to tarnish his name.
Verdict
The letter claiming to be from of Kericho County Assembly is FAKE.
This fact-check was produced by Africa Uncensored with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck, African Fact Checking Alliance network and the United Nations Development Programme.
Add comment