Public uproar as Members of the Kitui County Assembly leave for Israel

By PAUL MUTUA

KITUI, KENYA: The second team of Members of the Kitui County Assembly (MCAs) left for Israel Tuesday amid public uproar.

The twenty six MCAs join their thirty colleagues who returned from the eight-day similar trip at the weekend.

There were conflicting reports that the second trip had been put on hold after residents raised opposition to the foreign tour.

Deputy County Assembly Speaker Tito Mbiti had earlier confided to The Standard that trip had been cancelled to avoid further public condemnation.

A Kitui politician Mwendwa Kimanzi alias Kitute raised a red flag terming the trip to the Asia continent as wastage and abuse of public funds.

Kitute accused the county government of being insensitive for approving the MCAs’ trip which will cost the taxpayers some Sh50million.

The politician questioned where the county leadership including the Governor Dr Julius Malombe, Senator David Musila and woman representative Nyiva Mwendwa were when mwananchi’s funds were used in luxurious and uncalled for tours.

“It is wrong for MCAs to use such large amount of public funds in a foreign trip when the county faces myriad challenges including depilated roads, insufficient water for drinking and insecurity along the county boarders among others,” said Kitute during the burial of an accountant, Jacob Mutua Isika, at Kyanika sub location, Nzambani location in Kitui East constituency at the weekend.

He threatened to mobilise residents in storming the governor’s office and “eject him” if the misuse of public funds continued unabated.

There were murmurs and shouts when nominated MCA Mrs Mary Ndumbu tried to plead with the residents to support and give the county government time to deliver services without undue condemnations.

The county’s cooperatives minister Jonah Mwinzi said the devolved government had prepared for the roll out of development projects in the county and asked for patience.

The late Isika who died aged 66 was the treasurer to Kitui’s B2 Yatta Ranching Cooperative Society. He leaves behind five children. He was an epitome of virtues and philanthropist.