By Renson Mnyamwezi
Taita Taveta, Kenya: Taita Taveta County Ward Representatives want Governor John Mruttu to name a fresh Cabinet if he is to reconcile with them.
They have sued him at Mombasa High Court for swearing-in a Cabinet they had rejected.
On Saturday, they told Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo that the process of naming the County Executive Committee should be restarted.
Mruttu is scheduled to meet the representatives this morning in a bid to solve the stalemate that has derailed service delivery.
Lawyer Dancun Mwanyumba said Sunday that communication between Mruttu and County Assembly Members appears to have collapsed.
“It appears that there is no good communication between the governor, Senator Mwazo and County Assembly members. There is need for better communication and working relationship between all relevant stakeholders,” said Mwanyumba.
Sunday, Sheikh Khalifa, organising secretary of Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, said the wrangles in Taita Taveta are not isolated.
Closed-door meetings
He noted they mirror leadership wrangles in most counties across the country and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to intervene.“We are calling on the president and his deputy to go round the country to unite leaders and the people,” said Khalifa.
Mr Mwazo met the governor and County Assembly Members in two separate closed-door meetings on Saturday. “I am happy that you followed the law by going to court. That is a constitutional right,” said Mwazo. While addressing the Press later, accompanied by Mr Mruttu, the senator challenged the two warring parties to give mediation a chance.
The governor, however, declined to talk to the media saying the matter was in court. “I will not comment on matters that are still pending in court,” Mruttu said.
“As leaders differ in principle, they should always give room for consultation and dialogue. Even though it is right for county assembly leaders to seek legal redress, they should not have gone to court without first exhausting available avenues to end the impasse,” said Mwazo.
Mwazo expressed commitment towards protecting interests of the county and county government.
Another consultative meeting has been planned for this week. The meeting will bring together the Governor and assembly members.
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