Governors Mutua asked to keep off neighbour counties

Political disagreements among the three governors in Ukambani region overshadowed the much awaited launch of the south eastern economic bloc on Friday.

Governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Julius Malombe (Kitui) are unhappy with their Machakos counterpart, Dr Alfred Mutua, over his political forays in their counties without informing them.

The two governors complain that visiting their counties and offering to undertake development projects without involving them was the highest form of provocation and an affront to their authority.

On the eve of the inaugural ceremony at Konza Technopolis, Dr Mutua flew to Makueni and Kitui using two helicopters where he opened several offices of his Maendeleo Chap Chap movement, prompting his colleagues to demand that he respects them.

He also skipped the joint launch for the Ukambani economic bloc despite earlier having endorsed the plan, further signalling bad blood among the governors.

In a hard hitting statement, Prof Kibwana said Dr Mutua’s visits were aimed at embarrassing and undermining them by portraying them as subordinate to him in regional matters yet they were equals. 

“I’ve been patient with Governor Mutua’s antagonistic activities for too long. This provocation is no longer acceptable and must stop,” said an irritated Prof Kibwana, adding he only learnt of his recent visit to Makueni through the radio.

Prof Kibwana warned Dr Mutua to stop fashioning himself as the “prefect of other governors in Ukambani” and questioned the source of the funds he’s promising to initiate projects in other counties.

“Courtesy and respect demand that as elected leaders, we must concur to avoid creating unnecessary tensions. He shouldn’t sneak into Makueni County and confuse my people with fake development promises,” he said.

CAUSED A STIR

On Thursday, the Machakos governor caused a stir when he landed in Kitui and addressed three impromptu rallies in Kalundu and Kunda-Kindu markets and a final one at Bus Park within Kitui town.

At the time, Dr Malombe, the Kitui governor, and other leaders including Cord co-principal and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kitui senator David Musila and MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Mutua Muluvi (Kitui East) and Bernard Kitungi (Mwingi West) were attending the third graduation ceremony at South Eastern Kenya University.

Dr Mutua downplayed fears that his tours in the two counties in the absence of his colleagues will unsettle local political order or undermine political unity in the region.

He told the rallies that his visit was not meant to antagonise any leader and that development matters should not be restricted to county borders because the region faces common challenges of under-development.

“Our region faces the same challenges and when a water project is done in Kitui or any other corner of Ukambani, it is a plus to the whole region,” he said.

Dr Malombe’s chief of staff Kiema Kimoli said they had not been notified of the visit by Dr Mutua as is the standard practice and that they were unhappy with the contemptuous way in which he organised his trip.

“We take this as the height of political mockery and provocation. It’s like President Uhuru Kenyatta going to Uganda without informing President Museveni,” he said.

“We are not happy about such provocation. He should first deal with development challenges facing Machakos before purporting to offer assistance to neighbours,” he said.

He said the law was clear on how counties should spend devolved funds. “If there is a surplus budget in Machakos County to undertake development elsewhere, then he should call us, show us the budget and hand it over to us.”