Taita-Taveta Senator Mwazo denies claims of planning to oust governor John Mruttu

Taita-Taveta Senator Mwazo. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

TAITA-TAVETA COUNTY:  Senator Dan Mwazo has denied claims that he bankrolled Members of the County Assembly to impeach the Governor John Mruttu.

He dismissed his political critics spreading the rumours as disgruntled and selfish leaders who are out to tarnish his name.

“I have never ganged up with MCAs to impeach the governor as claimed by some leaders. Those spreading the rumours should stop using my name for their own political expediency. If I had wanted the position of Governor, I would have offered my candidature during the last general election,” said Mwazo.

“I do not want my political detractors to use my name for their selfish reasons and anyone found doing so will face legal action,” he warned.

Last month Mruttu survived a motion to impeach him from office.

Speaker of the County Assembly Maghanga Meshack Maghanga ruled the mover of the motion Sagala Ward Representative Godwin Kilele out of order terming his move as unprocedural.

Mwazo told off his critics saying they were engaging in divisive politics that would affected development.

Addressing a series of rallies in Wundanyi constituency yesterday, the former cabinet minister challenged local politicians to stop fighting the governor.

“Leaders should direct their time and energy in addressing issues affecting the local community like the thorny squatter issues, high poverty and unemployment levels among the youth and unresolved boundary issues affecting the county and its neighbouring counties,” he said.

“The governor was duly elected by the voters and should be given time and maximum support to serve the local community without any political interference,” he added.

He noted that divisive leaders among elected leaders in the region was to blame for the slow pace in development and must stop forthwith.

The former Voi MP at the same time said he has embarked on sensitizing forums to educate the local community on the contents of the constitution and their fundamental rights.

Residents have been accusing the Senator of abandoning the electorate since he was elected in last year’s general election. “My task is to ensure that counties receive money for development and that is what I have done. For those claiming that I have abandoned the electorate are misled,” said Mwazo.

He said so far the county has received over 3.6 billion. The money includes 2.6billion for the county government and Constituency Development Funds (CDF) for the four constituencies in the county namely Voi, Mwatate, Wundanyi and Taveta.

Other money includes Sh478 million for the rehabilitation of roads, Sh37 million for rural electrification in four constituencies and Sh16 million for each constituency from the Uwezo Fund.

“There should be no reason for less development in the region. The national government has disbursed enough money for infrastructure improvement and poverty alleviation,” said Mwazo.

He warned that anyone found embezzling public funds would face the full force of the law.

“There should be transparency and accountability in the use of funds. Anyone found diverting public funds will be dealt with,” warned the Senator.