IEBC verifying Makueni signatures as county govt on verge of dissolution

The electoral commission has started verifying signatures in a petition seeking the dissolution of the Makueni County government.

This comes a day after President Kenyatta told the Council of Governors and national government representatives that he had submitted the petition to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

A meeting chaired by the President resolved that a commission be set up to investigate the petition by Makueni voters to send Governor Kivutha Kibwana and the ward representatives home

He received the petition two weeks ago and it is signed by 50,826 Makueni residents, who want their county government dissolved to pave the way for by-elections.

The formation of the commission is in line with Section 123 of the Constitution.

IEBC CONFIRMS PETITION

IEBC communications manager Tabitha Mutemi on Tuesday confirmed the commission had received the petition from the President and was working on it.

Once the IEBC has certified the signatures as authentic, it will return them to State House, which will then form a commission to investigate allegations against Governor Kibwana and members of the county assembly.

Attempts to achieve harmony between the two arms of the county government failed.

Prof Kibwana said all attempts at peace and harmony had failed and the people of Makueni “should be given an opportunity to elect a county government of their choice”.

Meru Governor Peter Munya, who is the chairman of the governors' legal committee, said the Summit found that the petitioners had a good case in demanding that the county government be dissolved.