Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua refutes Kiala's vehicle allegations

Machakos, Kenya: Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has denied allegations that he withdrew his embattled deputy Bernard Kiala’s official car on Monday, saying Kiala has two vehicles at his disposal.

Dr Mutua termed as drama of the highest order Kiala’s decision to board a Nissan matatu outside the governor’s office when he had actually left a car at the parking yard.

The governor was reacting to reports attributed to the deputy governor that he (Mutua) withdrew Kiala’s official car when he went for a cabinet meeting.

“My deputy was allocated the Prado previously used by the mayor and another new Prado for his official use. This has not changed and both cars are at his disposal,” he said.

Mutua said the car the deputy governor used to attend the cabinet meeting was due for fitting with official number plates, adding that he was immediately assigned a car to use while his official vehicles went for the fittings.

No witch-hunt

Executive committee member in charge of Transport, Roads and Public Works, George Kioko wa Luka, confirmed Mutua’s statements, saying the move was not political.

Speaking to the Press at his office, Luka said the Machakos county executive team agreed that all county government vehicles be fitted with green plates to ensure proper use.

“So far, all vehicles assigned to executive committee members have already been fitted with the plates and only the deputy governor’s was remaining. We have been receiving reports that he has been resisting compliance with this policy, terming it political witch-hunt,” Luka said.

Luka confirmed that Kiala was assigned a replacement vehicle, a Subaru Outback, as the two Prados assigned to him were being fitted with official plates.

“We therefore wish to inform the public that this is not political witch-hunt against the deputy governor but a normal government process applicable to all in the Civil Service,’’ he said.

On matters security, governor Mutua said his deputy still has two armed body guards at his disposal 24hours a day.

Bodyguards withdrawn

“What was withdrawn from him are the two administration police officers attached to his rural home in Masinga and this order did not come from me,” he said.

The county AP commander, charged with deploying security to senior government officers in county governments, withdrew Kiala’s body guards citing a circular from the national government that deputies are not entitled to such privilege.