Why Taita Taveta MCAs are worried lot – Weekly Citizen

The stance taken by Taita Taveta governor Granton Samboja to dissolve the county government following disagreement with county assembly over usage of funds has won him support across the county.
Area MPs Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate), Jones Mlolwa (Voi), Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi) and Senator Jones Mwaruma have supported Samboja. Residents have turned out in large numbers to sign the petition.

MCA Mwashako

At one time, residents heckled MCAs who tried to block them from endorsing the dissolution petition. Samboja has accused the assembly of failing to meet budgetary timelines for the financial year 2019/2020.
According to the governor, the county assembly demanded Sh670 million which is 16pc of the over Sh5.4 billion budgetary estimates instead of adhering to the prescribed maximum of 7pc of the estimates.
The MCAs increased allocation for each department by 10pc, demanding Sh41.6 million to each ward development fund totaling to Sh839 million. This happens as main hospitals and dispensaries are not adequately supplied with drugs due to debts owed to suppliers.
It has since emerged that the MCA plotted to impeach Samboja and all county executive committee members due to fight against graft.
The move has come as Devolution cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa initiated mediation talks between the Taita Taveta county executive and county assembly in efforts to resolve the current stalemate and avert dissolution.
The stalemate had led to an announcement by Governor Samboja that he wants to petition Uhuru Kenyatta for the resolution of the county government.
“Involved in the deliberations are Commission on Revenue Allocation, the Auditor General’s office, National Treasury and we are looking at what has happened and why we have a threat of dissolution of the county government,” explained Wamalwa. Wamalwa is said to have met county assembly leadership in Nairobi recently.

MCA Mwadime

According to Wamalwa, there are other counties facing difficulties like Kisumu where Governor Anyang Nyong’o had a standoff with the county assembly, in Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has also had problems with the county assembly and there are three others including Kitui of governor Charity Ngilu.
Local Anglican Church bid to broker a deal between the governor and assembly has hit the rocks. MCAs are worried after the petition received more than required signature.