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Citizen Weekly

Sunday 18 January 2015

Exposed: Why Muthama has opened new war against Mutua

Outspoken Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama has issued a five-day ultimatum on Governor Alfred Mutua to dismiss corrupt senior officials of his government or else face the wrath.
Muthama and Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala have of late led dozens of Machakos MCAs in a rally at Makadara grounds in Athi River where they vowed to spill the beans.
The irate leaders claimed the county government is riddled with massive corruption and plunder of public funds, and threatened to rally residents in a mass protest to the county’s seat of power.
Soft spoken Kiala, accused the county executive board of poor performance and pursuing selfish interests.
 “Some of the executives are merely pursuing ‘projects’ that seek to benefit themselves through dubious dealings,” he said.
The deputy governor accused the county government of poor planning on the aspect of food security, saying the county is likely to experience a serious famine this year.
 “Everyone is aware that rains have failed in this region and crop failure is almost at 80pc, and we have not heard or seen any mitigation measures taken by the executive to cushion residents against the impending famine,” he noted.
Since his fall out with Mutua last year, Kiala was stripped of his ministerial position and does not therefore sit in cabinet meetings.
Muthama urged residents measure the performance of the county government against the pre-election promises.
“I am not out to block  development but I am merely performing an oversight responsibility granted to me under the constitution,” he said
Muthama said that this ensures all residents get their entitlement through sound prioritisation of development issues, which has not been forthcoming.
Mavoko’s rally is likely to ignite a fresh round of what is being seen as political contest between the two camps, one under Mutua and the other led by Muthama where the former still enjoys more support in the county assembly.
In Machakos town, two MCAs were arrested by county askaris and arraigned in court over allegations of causing disturbance at Machakos Level Five Hospital.
Accompanied by Machakos deputy governor Bernard Kiala, a group of MCAs had visited the facility to inspect and get information concerning nurses’ strike.
As the drama unfolded, a woman gave birth at the gate of Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
Despite the presence of ambulances, the woman had just alighted from a motorbike that had transported her to the hospital.
Those supporting Mutua dismissed corruption allegations against the county government, and challenged Muthama’s camp to produce evidence of corruption through established institutions.
“If they have any evidence on corruption by any senior official, they should simply table it in form of motion before the assembly,” one of the residents told this paper.

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