Gospel musician Rufftone named in Sh30m fertiliser saga
Gospel musician Roy Smith Mwaita, popularly known as Rufftone, is on the spot after being named in a report by the Vihiga county assembly on a Sh30 million subsidised fertiliser distribution program under investigation.
The assembly, in its 19 page report, revealed that the musician received an imprest of Sh180,000 during the distribution of the fertiliser between March 3 and March 7 this year.
He was paid for entertaining the public who were buying the subsidised fertiliser.
According to the report approved with amendments last week, Rufftone is said to have received Sh140,000 on March 3, Sh20,000 on March 6 and another Sh20,000 on March 7.
DIFFERENT SIGNATURES
It notes that different signatures are appended against the musician’s name and called for more investigations.
The report reads; “Rufftone signed for a lot of money on a foolscap for different amounts but the signatures are not the same.”
“Someone may have forged his signatures to swindle the money in his name,” it adds.
The musician is identified by his artistic name throughout the report which has cited irregularities that marred the procurement and distribution of the Sh30 million fertiliser early this year.
Mr Musoga defended failure by his committee to use the musicians real name.
He said; “Rufftone is a popular musician and he is widely known by his artistic name.”
The report recommends that Governor Moses Akaranga suspends his agriculture executive Mrs Halima Abdi and her chief officer Mr Moses Andagalu over the scam.
The Director of Agribusinesses Mr Lucus Makhaniah is quoted in the report as saying “the sourcing of the singer to entertain fertiliser buyers was not known”.
Mr Makhaniah however confirmed that Rufftone was paid some monies.
OFFER ENTERTAINMENT
The embattled chief officer, Mr Andagalu, however said the gospel singer approached him and requested to offer entertainment services for the county during the distribution of fertiliser.
“He was paid from the proceeds of the sale of the commodity,” said Mr Andagalu.
The county agriculture minister, Mrs Abdi, could not quote the exact amount paid to the musician on grounds that she does not handle the department’s finances.
Vihiga county spent Sh831, 200 to pay imprests and other expenditures committed during the distribution of the fertiliser .
The report called for further investigations and verification of the signatures to ascertain if it is Rufftone who signed for the money.
The 9-member ad hoc committee set up to conduct further investigations and audit into the procurement and distribution of the Sh30 million fertiliser began its sittings Thursday.