Nyeri Speaker writes defiant letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta over attack on budget

Nyeri County assembly speaker David Mwangi PHOTO:COURTESY

Nyeri County assembly speaker David Mwangi has written a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta defending the position of the assembly on the budget after he castigated them over the supplementary budget.

During the burial of the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, President Kenyatta and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga heavily criticised MCAs for holding governors at ransom by making unrealistic demands.

President Kenyatta supported sentiments of Governor Samuel Wamathai who asked the MCAs to immediately pass the supplementary budget for the sake of development.

Mwangi has however responded to the request by President Kenyatta and Wamathai by saying that there is no budget stalemate and the ‘outburst’ by the governor was unwarranted.

In a two page letter to the President Kenyatta, Mwangi told the head of state there was no delay in the supplementary budget, and dismissed the Wamathai’s comments as a political move to undermine the assembly.

“The outburst by the Governor was uncalled for and it is quite clear that it was a calculated political gimmick to portray the assembly members before the nation as uncaring, unpatriotic, and selfish people,” Mwangi said.

He added "The supplementary budget they are saying we have passed was only received on February 22 and it was committed to the Budget Committee the same day. The law should be allowed to take its course."

Mwangi’s letter also pointed out that after Wamathai’s swearing in, on February 28, he, the majority leader and minority leader of the assembly visited the governor in his office to brief him on the progress of the budget.

“It was therefore shocking to hear him (Wamathai) in his speech imply that the assembly had refused or delayed to approve the supplementary budget,” he said.

The Speaker also attached a copy of supplementary budget to the letter to the president.

“Your Excellency I write this letter to assure you that the assembly is fully sized of this matter and will in accordance with the law execute its mandate,” Mwangi stated.