It is true you can take the man out of the village but you cannot the village out of a man. A first-term MP from Western Kenya shocked colleagues during their recent Coast tour. The man, we are told, nearly lost thousands of shillings to twilight girls were it not for police officers. He had been been roaming clubs since he arrived while clad in a suit and armed with bundles of notes. That he was not about to change his behaviour soon is no secret. Corridors is informed the gent kept flaunting his money, as much as Sh10,000, to have favourite tune played.
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Staff of some South Rift MPs who thought they had it made by being employed by legislators after the election got a rude shock. Every month, Parliament disburses money for their salaries totalling Sh600,000 to be divided among them. But Corridors is told the MPs take back half the money, leaving them to share whatever is left. On paper, they could be earning Sh200,000 but they must give half to the MP's spouse or to the MP. Corridors is informed the avarice list is led by a first-term senator and woman representative. The staff have nowhere to turn, they wait for the next poll for payback.
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The insistence by the new administration everyone pays tax, including the high and the mighty, is causing tremors in high places. A former senior state officer who owes the taxman millions is scared. Our mole whispers to Corridors he does not want to be on the wrong side of the law since he is already a marked man. He is planning write a cheque this week to clear the debt so he can continue enjoying his retirement in peace.
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A former county staffer held a key Treasury position in a South Rift county. He is much talked about. The man is said to have played a key role in electing the current governor. Surprisingly, he was dropped from the cabinet lineup. However, when he came to the handover last week, his supporters jammed county offices, forcing the ex-money man to address them outside near the governor's office. The county chief peeped through the window. The governor is said to have sacrificed the man for fear he would overshadow him. The snub didn't affect the clamouring masses.
(Edited by V. Graham)