South Fulton Mayor barred from city buildings, blocked from mayoral budget

The South Fulton City Council has taken significant steps to curb Mayor Khalid Kamau’s authority, temporarily barring him from all city buildings, revoking his access to a city-owned electric vehicle, and stripping him of control over the mayoral budget. These actions come amid allegations of improper use of city resources and misconduct in office. Additionally, the council has restricted communication between city employees and Kamau, threatening disciplinary measures if these directives are violated.

The Council’s decision stems from concerns about Kamau’s spending, including taxpayer-funded international trips, renovations to the mayoral suite, and purchases such as a pool table and film studio equipment. Kamau reportedly tried to have the city fund the equipment, despite stating that a friend would cover the costs. The pool table was said to cost approximately $1,800, and the film studio equipment around $19,000. Furthermore, Kamau is under investigation for the use of a city-issued purchasing card (P-card), with estimates suggesting that he may have spent around $26,000 within the first months of 2024.

In response to these actions, Kamau called the council’s measures a “coup,” claiming they were politically motivated to undermine him ahead of the upcoming election. He also accused the council of being distracted by internal squabbles rather than focusing on critical issues like the impact of warehouses and data centers on the city.

Kamau has acknowledged his international travels to Ghana and Colombia but defended the trips as opportunities to seek investment that would benefit South Fulton. However, his critics argue that using taxpayer funds for these trips is inappropriate for a public official.

These temporary restrictions will remain in place as investigations into Kamau’s spending continue. While his supporters view these actions as politically motivated, the city council insists they are necessary to address concerns over mismanagement of city resources.