Makueni Ward Representatives have threatened to impeach Finance Executive over delayed salaries and allowances.
The MCAs are accusing Governor Kivutha Kibwana of a plot to punish 120 assembly staff for political differences.
But Kibwana says the MCAs dug their own grave, and won’t pay huge allowances for unverifiable trips that the assembly members are demanding.
The staff have not been paid their allowances since January. They also complain of missing salaries amounting to Sh70 million for March and April.
The assembly has 48 MCAs while the rest are employees in different departments.
The war is taking a political twist with MCAs allied to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka claiming Prof Kibwana is revenging defeat in the March Kitise/Kithuki ward by-election. During the polls, the governor supported a Muungano aspirant who lost to a Wiper candidate.
“The governor expected us to support his Muungano candidate but majority defied him. After losing the seat, things changed. The governor is brewing unnecessary wars. Assembly employees are suffering and that is why we will impeach the Executive Committee Member for Finance,” said an MCA.
“In January, the county received Sh752 million, Sh335 million in February and Sh629 million in March and so there is no reason for not releasing funds,” added Majority Whip Joseph Muema.
But the administration blamed late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury.
“The Executive in charge explained that the latest disbursement received by the county was on March 25, 2021, which was for the month of January,” said Kibwana.
Kibwana criticised the assembly for striking an MoU with a local bank for advance payment of salaries without enough consultations. The money was to be repaid in 30 days. The bank has since cut business with the assembly.
Kibwana said he would not pay allowances on personal or political party meetings. “Some MCAs travel to even Arusha, Tanzania, for political party affairs and they demand to be paid. Some are demanding up to Sh500,000 in a month. We will not pay such allowances since we don’t want audit queries,” said Kibwana.
