Senators sabotaging governors, says Munya
Meru Governor and Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya (front left), his deputy Salim Mvurya (on his left) together with other governors in a discussion after the third annual devolution conference at Meru National Polytechnic on April 21, 2016 evening. Munya has said senators are sabotaging governors. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya claimed senators have blocked allocation of additional funds to counties so that projects they have started can stall.
- Mr Munya said while 40,000- kilometre roads have been devolved, the national government has failed to increase funding for their maintenance.
Governors have accused senators of sabotaging them in an effort to make county bosses look bad ahead of next year’s elections.
Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya claimed senators have blocked allocation of additional funds to counties so that projects they have started can stall.
“Because of political ambitions, with eyes on governors’ seats, senators have barred allocation of funds for construction of county roads in the 2016/2017 budget,” he said.
He accused them of being keen to elbow governors out of office in 2017 elections. Mr Munya said while 40,000- kilometre roads have been devolved, the national government has failed to increase funding for their maintenance.
“I went to the Senate and presented our recommendations for more funding towards these roads. However, the Senate did not push for the funds. They only passed recommendations from the national government. The problem in the Senate is that they all want to become governors in 2017,” he said.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
He said: “They don’t want counties to get funds because they think current governors will win more support due to increased development. Senators should not let personal interests override public interests.”
“You should not sabotage public interest just because you have something against Mr Munya. You should come out and fight me personally.”
Mr Munya spoke in Meru during disbursement of Sh161 million for bursaries, scholarships and youth polytechnic capitation fees on Saturday.
He said it is because of their political ambitions that senators boycotted the third annual devolution conference in Meru.
