Chief Kassian Shiyambi of VaGciriku Traditional Authority (VTA) is being accused of nepotism and corruption by his dissatisfied subjects for allegedly supporting the recommendation of his brother-in-law, Urban Haikera, to be a representative on the Communal Land Board, despite the former principal of Ndiyona Combined School having a controversial history of criminality in the teaching profession.

“Haikera was expelled from the teaching profession almost four years ago, for having a sexual relationship with a learner whom he impregnated. Having a sexual relationship with a learner is a crime. In terms of the Communal Land Reform Act, a person who has been found guilty of a criminal offence may be disqualified from being a member of the board. Questions are being raised by members of the VTA as to why Haikera is not disallowed. Mr. Appollonarius Kanyinga, the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement is apparently aware of this, one village source claimed, but because he and Haikera are from the same village, he keeps quiet without advising the authority.”
Key movers in the recommendation and subsequent appointment of the former school principal to the Communal Land Board are said to be Chief Shiyambi’s children: Prince Shampapi, alias Papi, Princess Stena who is a teacher at Nyangana Combined School and Prince Kasu, who works as his father’s driver.
Prince Shampapi laughed off a request from Informante that he should pass over the questions to his father (Chief Shiyambi), his siblings and some members of the VTA for a comment. He said he was far away from the Chief. “I cannot say anything, because I don’t know what you are talking about. You have to go and ask them yourself”, he quipped. Additional allegations of corruption related to the misuse of funds and nepotistic appointments that could not be substantiated at the time of going to press were made against the leadership of the Traditional Authority.

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