Let Makueni electorate decide, says Governor Kivutha Kibwana

MAKUENI COUNTY: Embattled Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has welcomed a decision to form a commission of inquiry to probe the petition by Makueni voters to dissolve the county government.

This, he said, will bring to an end the wrangles that have paralysed county operations.

In an interview with The Standard, Kibwana defended the decision, maintaining it was in the interest of the Makueni electorate that the county government be suspended and other leaders elected.

"The people of Makueni I'm sure are very happy because they want to elect new leaders and the process has now started in earnest.

"We wasted the five months because of disagreements on the budget. If the people of a county collect many signatures they have an intention to retire the entire leadership because of non-performances and continuous disagreements then they should have their way," he said.

He said once the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) completes the verification of the 50,826 signatures in the petition, the commission should conduct its business expeditiously.

IEBC is expected to establish whether there are grounds to warrant a dissolution of the county administration.

However, a section of county assembly members are unhappy with the prospects of fresh elections, with some calling for dialogue.

Makueni Majority Leader Francis Mutuku said those opposed to the dissolution are not scared of fresh elections, noting that talks may just put another option on the table.

THE BALLOT

"The assembly has always been for dialogue, but that does not mean that we fear elections. If we go to the ballot, most of us will be back. The way to go when you are in talks is not to tell them to resign, but instead tell him what he is supposed to do.

"It is very clear to the people of Makueni that they have not gotten services. In the last financial year, the county government was unable to utilise Sh1.3 billion. If he (governor) is not able to deliver services to the people, I think the best option is for him to resign. However, dialogue should have been given a chance before the push to disband the county government," reiterated Makueni deputy Speaker Benard Musau.

"I think the governor is doing his best because services are money-bound. However, I do not agree with the move to dissolve the county government because there are other ways to make things work and ultimately resolve the differences without necessarily having to go to the ballot.

"Nobody is prepared to go for an election unless it is 2017. Unless we talk, we cannot know how to solve those problems," said Makueni Minority Leader John Mwenze.

Kibwana emphasised that the differences between the executive and county assembly which resulted in his impeachment and four other officials are irreconcilable and that the only way to resolve them is to go for a by-election.

LAWFUL CEILINGS

The governor accused the county assembly of going on recess without passing the 2014/2015 budget based on the lawful ceilings established by the National Assembly.

Prof Kibwana said the Makueni administration will not receive any money from the Treasury from January.

"The assembly is holding the executive at ransom and at the end of the year the vote on account will expire, leaving no money for salaries or any other business leaving. This will leave the controller of budget no option but to shut down the county government," he said.

He said he has no problem if after the dissolution he is not elected but ultimately, the will of the of the people will have prevailed.

"If leaders come to these positions and think they can take people's money, they do not deserve to be leaders. It is okay even if I do not get re-elected but at least the people will have established the principle that leadership is a trust and leaders work for the people," he said.

Kibwana says he would rather seek a fresh mandate from Makueni voters in an election that will put servant and transformational leadership at the helm of the county.

He dismissed claims he used his position to instigate people to sign the petition.