Senate orders Governor Mutua to release MCA salaries

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has been ordered by the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) to release salaries of Members of County Assembly.

The Committee issued the directive, accusing Governor Mutua of frustrating the Assembly for impeaching his Deputy Governor Eng. Francis Maliti as the County Executive for Finance.

The Governor is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the county’s legislative arm with the tussle leading to the county executive denying the MCAs their October salaries.

It is understood that Governor Mutua ordered his Finance minister not to disburse the MCAs salaries, accusing them of failing to approve the County Integrated Development Plan.

“The members of the county assembly who are fighting me approved their own salaries but failed to approve money for development. I have said they should also not get their salaries if they will not approve money for development,” Governor Mutua was quoted by a local daily on Tuesday.

Machakos County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi, however dismissed the Governor’s claims that the Assembly was withholding development funds.

The Speaker noted that the Controller of Budget has been releasing money for development even without the CIDP, accusing the Executive of lying that it has no money for development.

On Wednesday, Machakos MCAs approved a report by the Ad-hoc committee on the impeachment of Mr. Maliti.

Prior to the impeachment motion, Governor Mutua termed the bid to impeach Maliti as a political witch hunt, adding that he would continue serving as the Finance CEC.

Governor Mutua accused the MCAs of impeaching the deputy governor to hide their corrupt dealings.

Earlier in the week, Governor Mutua had written to the Auditor General to send a team to the County Assembly for a special financial audit focusing on specific areas of concern and individuals.

He added that after receiving the audit report, he will study it and take proper action including forwarding it to the EACC and DCI for appropriate action.

Led by Matungulu MCA Cosmas Masesi, the legislators accuse Maliti of failing to discharge his duties at the helm of the Finance docket.