An embattled Georgia mayor and former Black Lives Matter organizer stormed out of a city council meeting as furious residents questioned him about allegedly using a city credit card for lavish purchases.
South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau, known as Mayor Kobi, berated his own constituents for citing his spending in office, which included an $1,800 desk that can be turned into a pool table, and over $9,000 in one month on travel including flight upgrades.
This month he was also accused of blowing thousands of taxpayer money for a 20-day luxury vacation to Ghana, with further purchases also reportedly including a $1,300 drone.
Kamau shot back at a tense city council meeting on Tuesday: ‘I am so distressed and disappointed that the blackest city in one of the blackest states in the United States of America heading into Black History Month, we are tearing each other down.’
Councilwoman Helen Willis slammed his attempts to dodge the questioning, responding: ‘We’re not tearing you down you took your black behind over to Africa for 20 days and didn’t tell anybody.’
The hostile exchange came after residents confronted Kamau over his alleged mishandling of taxpayer money, as local Patricia Wise was seen telling the council: ‘You guys got to do better, you guys really do got to do better.’
After facing the onslaught, Kamau walked out of the meeting as the hearing turned to discussing new policies, refusing to give an explanation for his huge expenses, per WSBTV.
Embattled South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau stormed out of a city council meeting as furious residents questioned him about allegedly using a city credit card for lavish purchases
Kamau, known as Mayor Kobi, berated his own constituents for citing his spending in office, saying he was ‘distressed and disappointed’ that he was being questioned ‘heading into Black History Month’
Kamau, a self-described socialist, became the Mayor of South Fulton in January 2022, and claims to be ‘America’s first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office’
Kamau, a self-described socialist, became the Mayor of South Fulton in January 2022, and claims on his website to be ‘America’s first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office.’
South Fulton’s 92 percent African American population makes it the ‘blackest city in America’, and Kamau’s website states that he ‘is on a mission to make America’s blackest city black on purpose.’
‘Which means a city that is not just unapologetic about its demographics, but moving on purpose to be a laboratory for economic, housing and restorative justice policies aimed at improving the lives of African Americans,’ the site states.
Kamau attempted to use the demographics of his city to avoid questions about his alleged mismanagement of taxpayer funds, seemingly irate that he was being scrutinized ‘heading into Black History Month.’
Months of alleged misspending were revealed in January by WSBTV, as he was accused of using city-issued credit cards to spend almost $26,000 between October and December on ‘unauthorized travel, food and other expenses.’
Bank records cited by the outlet showed purchases including a $1,300 drone, a $1,800 Amazon order, and flight upgrades despite upgrades being against city expenses policy.
Kamau has branded the allegations against him a ‘smear campaign’, but has reportedly failed to answer questions in recent weeks to explain his purchases, allegedly including a total of 112 outstanding receipts in the few months.
Kamau, pictured with Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, branded the allegations against him a ‘smear campaign’, but has reportedly failed to answer questions in recent weeks to explain almost $26,000 in purchases between October and December
Much of the scrutiny on Kamau’s spending has fallen on a 20-day luxury trip he took to Ghana, which he documented on his social media
Residents questioned whether the trip to Ghana was paid for by taxpayers, with the vacation including multiple plane tickets of over $5,000
The mayor flaunted the trip to his Instagram account, including the over-the-top welcome he received at the airport with a cavalcade of luxury cars to pick him up
Much of the scrutiny on Kamau’s spending has fallen on a 20-day luxury trip he took to Ghana, which included multiple plane tickets totaling over $5,000.
The mayor flaunted the trip to his Instagram account, including the over-the-top welcome he received at the airport.
It saw traditional dancers welcome him at the airport and a cavalcade of luxury cars to pick him up.
He also posted images partying with the locals and enjoying a spacious apartment.
Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis told WSB-TV that the city of Fulton has no business with Ghana or Africa.
‘Not to my knowledge, that isn’t even a priority,’ Willis said at the time.
City council has been looking into the mayor’s trip and his spending, with Willis adding that ‘We need more economic development here and we don’t need to go to Africa in order for the city to have a multi-business deal.’
