What was intended as a financial lifeline has turned into a lightning rod of controversy in Mavoko, as MP Patrick Makau faces mounting backlash over the disbursement of Sh3.1 million in Uwezo Fund cheques. The program, meant to uplift youth and women through small enterprise funding, has now been marred by claims of political favoritism and insider dealings, with residents alleging that the bulk of the money landed in the hands of Makau’s inner circle.
A resident who requested anonymity revealed a troubling account: his group, among many others, had followed due process in applying for the fund but never received approval. “Only groups connected to the MP or his confidants received funding,” he claimed. The resident painted the process as exclusive and riddled with bias, leading to increasing suspicions of deliberate exclusion of the deserving.
Critics are now calling the disbursement a façade carefully orchestrated to give legitimacy to what they say was a well-masked channeling of public funds to political allies. Some have gone as far as suggesting that proxies were used to receive funds in an effort to disguise the true beneficiaries. This has not only shaken public trust but also raised red flags about accountability and transparency in local governance.
Amid growing uproar, the community is demanding urgent intervention from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). They want a thorough investigation to uncover what they believe is a betrayal of public trust. As anger simmers and questions mount, the integrity of Mavoko’s leadership and the fate of future development initiatives hangs in the balance.
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There is need for machakos residents to scrutinise leaders on integrity issues to weed out those who are determined to enrich themselves and their cronies like hon.patrick makau