Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua’s move to withhold salaries belonging to Machakos county MCAs has been met by great opposition from the Senate.
Mr Mutua had ordered his Finance minister not to release the salaries of the county assembly members until they approve the County Integrated Development Plan, a condition set by Controller of Budget for the release of the funds to the ward reps.
His attempts to make the county assembly members dance to his tune has however received a major blow with the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) ordering him to release salaries of the Members of County Assembly.
The Committee issued the directive, accusing Governor Mutua of frustrating the Assembly for impeaching his Deputy Governor Eng. Francis Maliti as the County Executive for Finance.
The Governor is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the county’s legislative arm with the tussle leading to the county executive denying the MCAs their October salaries.
It is understood that Governor Mutua ordered his Finance minister not to disburse the MCAs salaries, accusing them of failing to approve the County Integrated Development Plan.
While inspecting boreholes in Mutituni and Machakos Central wards on Tuesday, Mr Mutua said the ward reps do not deserve to be paid because they have blocked the release of development funds.
“The members of the county assembly who are fighting me approved their own salaries but failed to approve money for development. I have said they should also not get their salaries if they will not approve money for development,” said Governor Mutua.
The governor accused the ward reps of not being mindful of the people who elected them, adding that bursaries for needy students have been delayed because of the stalemate.
Machakos County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi, however dismissed the Governor’s claims that the Assembly was withholding development funds.
Machakos county MCAs impeached the deputy governor, a move Mutua now claims they made to hide their own corrupt dealings.
Deputy governor Francis Maliti was last week impeached on grounds of gross misconduct and incompetence.
The MCAs led by Matungulu’s Cosmas Masesi said Maliti had failed to discharge his duties during his time at the helm of the finance docket.
Masesi said under Maliti’s watch the county had failed to raise its revenue target of Sh1.7 billion.
However, Mutua said there has been a push by the leadership of the county assembly to blackmail the executive.
Was the Senate Committee right in Ordering the governor to release salaries for the MCAs?