War between Machakos governor and his deputy intensifies

Machakos, Kenya: Across section of Machakos county leaders on Sunday reacted angrily over the continued public outbursts by the deputy governor Bernard Kiala, which they dismissed as misleading.

Members of parliament Victor Munyaka (Machakos town), his Mwala counterpart Vincent Musyoka, the newly elected county Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairman Mrs Francisca Mutinda and the Narc county chairman Mr Davis Musau, termed the utterances as unfounded, mischievous and baseless.

Speaking exclusively to the Standard separately, the leaders said Mr Kiala's only option was to tender humble resignation to prove to the residents of Machakos County that what he was saying was true.

''If the county government is that dirty, as he claims, then how can he still remain inside and start addressing us from it'' asked Mr Munyaka.

The MP said what Mr Kiala was trying to preach to the whole world about Machakos county government was a bit confusing because a few months ago, he was singing  a different tune.

''I wonder whether it’s the same Kiala who went round the county in public meetings praising the governor Alfred Mutua of having done a tremendous job  in developing the county'' he exclaimed.

Mr Musyoka told the deputy governor to prove himself right over the claims of the corrupt county government by excluding himself from it by resigning.

''If I were him I could not have waited for the impeachment, “said Mr Musyoka.

The MP said what Mr Kiala was doing was the last kicks of a dying horse after he had messed up himself.

''He's trying to cover up his misdeeds that he's now transferring to the governor as a scapegoat'' said the MP.

Mr Musyoka said people of Machakos were cautiously following Mr Kiala's trend that was leading him to the trench.

He said after the deputy governor accepted to betray his boss by conducting secret meetings with his detractors he has now come out in the open to dare him before he sinks deep.

Mrs Mutinda said women in the county were shocked by Mr Kiala's utterances that were bent on ridiculing the governor.

''As women of the county we are aware that Mr Kiala is being used by the governor's political detractors to bring him down but we shall not be blindfolded not to see the vast development he (governor) has initiated in our county'' said the Maendeleo ya Wanawake organization boss.

She told Mr Kiala to either leave the government he was purporting to be rotten or shut up because they will not afford to continue listening to his propaganda bent to confuse people of Machakos and create the impression that the governor has done nothing for them.

Mr Musau said the deputy governor was an injured antelope trying to take cover from an open ground with the cheetah in hot-pursuit.

''Let him stop crying foul yet he knows what he's talking about is part of him and come out in the open to confess before the people of Machakos'' he said.

He said all what Mr Kiala was doing was an attempt to cover up the evils he had been doing in his office.