Governor Samboja and Taita Taveta MCAs finally call truce after 4-month battle

After a four-month standoff that has left the County Government of Taita Taveta on the verge of dissolution, the Governor and Members of County Assembly appear to have called an end to their disagreement.

On Wednesday, Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja assented to the supplementary budget estimates for the 2019/2020 financial year which has been at the centre of the conflict with the MCAs.

The MCAs have been in a standoff with Governor Samboja after he failed to approve the budget in June 2019 and even went ahead to impeach him.

The motion to impeach the county boss was tabled by Rong’e ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Harris Keke and supported by 30 out of the 33 MCAs; the remaining 3 were absent.

The MCAs cited various reasons for kicking out Governor Samboja among them failure to submit to the county assembly an annual report on the implementation status of the county policies and plans.

They further accused him of failing to address the county assembly as required, misappropriation of funds as well as misleading the people of Taita Taveta in dissolving the county.

The impeachment was however suspended after the Governor moved to court.

On his part, the Governor embarked on a campaign for a petition seeking for the county government to be dissolved; an appeal that has since been approved by the IEBC.

On Wednesday, as the Governor and MCA called an end to their standoff, IEBC announced that the petition seeking to suspend the county government had met the required threshold and had been forwarded to the President for further action.

The President is expected to submit a report on grounds to suspend the county to the apex intergovernmental body, which comprises of the President and all governors, within 14 days.

Upon approval from the apex body, the President shall appoint a commission to inquire into the matter and approved by the senate.

However, with apparent end of hostility between the Governor and Ward-Reps the Head of State could make a different move.

The approval of the Ksh.5.7 billion supplementary could see an end to the stalemate between the warring factions of Executive and the County Assembly.