Waiguru, MCAs agree to work together
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
What you need to know:
- Ms Waiguru and the 25 MCAs, opposed to her style of leadership, had been at loggerheads since last year and could not work together.
- In June, the MCAs passed a vote of no confidence against the governor and impeached her but she was saved by the Senate.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and ward representatives have declared a ceasefire and agreed to focus on development of the region.
They made peace during a meeting held in Nairobi on Wednesday night, bringing to an end a protracted political battle that grounded operations of the county.
Ms Waiguru and the 25 MCAs, opposed to her style of leadership, had been at loggerheads since last year and could not work together.
The nasty political fight adversely affected development projects across the region causing county workers to go without salaries.
In June, the MCAs passed a vote of no confidence against the governor and impeached her but she was saved by the Senate.
The MCAs said the conflict is now over and the governor is ready to withdraw a case she filed in the High Court challenging the amendment of the budget by the assembly.
"Ms Waiguru agreed to withdraw the case so that implementation of projects can kick off," said Thiba ward representative Pius Njogu.
The MCAs revealed they made the decision to end the standoff after the governor softened her hard stance and promised to allocate Sh20 million development funds for every ward and to release enough bursary fund for needy secondary and college students.
Briefing the press after the meeting, the MCAs said they entered into an agreement with the governor in the presence of the lawyers of both parties.
"Our lawyers were present as we signed the agreement and no one is supposed to breach the covenant we made on the way forward," Wamumu ward representative John Baptista Kanga said.
The MCAs said they will pass a budget so that all the stalled projects can be stalled and there could be adequate funds to fight the Covid-19 pandemic which has hit the region.
"Right now we have no issues with the Governor and we shall approve all the money she requires for smooth running of the County," Ngariama ward representative Erastus Ireri said.
The meeting was one of a series of others that had been convened by Mount Kenya Foundation to reconcile the Governor and the ward representatives.
Ms Waiguru could not be reached for comment as her phone went unanswered.
