Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao
Photo:NTV
Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has been embroiled in a war of words with Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao over the Auditor General’s report that has unveiled massive misuse of public funds by the County Government.
The three leaders yesterday exchanged bitter words on social media after the Governor accused the Wiper legislators of destabilizing his government.
The war of words was seemingly ignited by Kisoi, one of the fiercest critics of Kivutha who accused the Governor of running a corrupt government. In a recent interview in a vernacular station, the MP castigated Kivutha for the misuse of public funds as revealed by the audit report and called for accountability.
The MP also read mischief in the stealing of six computers from the Department of Procurement two weeks ago at the county headquarters offices located in Wote town. The stealing of the computers came barely days after Mohammed Nyaoga, the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry looking into the possible dissolution of Makueni County ordered for documentary evidence from the procurement department after the Auditor General testified before the commission that the County Executive flouted procurement procedures in awarding of some tenders.
The remarks by the Mbooni MP drew the wrath of Governor Kivutha who took to social media and accused the MP of mobilizing other Wiper legislators to destabilize his government. In a lengthy Facebook post, in group called Makueni County Sharing Forum the Governor called on the Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to give counsel to Senator Mutula Jnr and the MPs to support the county government.
“After we have begun to concentrate on development as a county government, Kisoi is trying to mobilize Hon Makenga and other Wiper MPs to destabilize us. Such MPs want us never to do development work and then wait for 2017 to say that we failed the people.
“We ask Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka to advise his MPs to positively support county development efforts in Makueni. We politely ask that he gives counsel to his Senator and MPs,”
read the post in part.
The governor accused Kisoi of making defamatory statements against him and his government and threatened to take the MP and his counterparts to the public court.
“If Kisoi and other like-minded MPs continue to destabilize us then I will take the matter to the Makueni County Public’s court. We have been following the defamatory statements against us,” said the post.
The governor also denied allegations by the MP that the stealing of the computers was an inside job saying his government has already been reported the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department at both the county and national level.
“He says that the computers which were stolen from county offices were stolen through an inside job. We reported the theft to CID both at Makueni and National levels and investigations are ongoing,” said the governor in his post.
While quoting US President Barack Obama, Kivutha said the politics of witch-hunt had no place in the Makueni and the entire country and called on Kisoi to approach his government for any integrity issues.
“If Kisoi and others were acting in good faith they would seek a meeting with me or write about any integrity or other issues. We accept that any person from Makueni and indeed Kenya has a right to demand accountability from any public entity or individual. I wish Kisoi did listen to President Obama on how the opposition and young leaders should exercise leadership,” said the post.
However, the post did not go well with the senator and the MP who also took to Facebook to criticize the governor, with Mutula Jnr terming the post as unfortunate.
“I have read the post and I am totally perplexed. Lumping me in the latest utterances by Hon Kisoi (which I have not read or heard) is unfortunate. I was accused of doing many things in September 2013.I did not respond, God had answered for me.The Bible says in the book of John that the truth shall set you free,” read Mutula Jnr’s post.
The senator added that he had never commented on the audit report, as he was still waiting for the both arms of the county government to explain the financial discrepancies and wondered why the governor dragged Kalonzo’s name in the issue.
“Do I have to ask the permission of my party leader to do the above?,” he posed.
Also in a quick rejoinder, the Mbooni MP took to Facebook and told off the Governor for misleading the people of Makueni.
“As for the stolen computers, that is none of my business but the county governments. Secondly, I am not the author of the audit report. The people of Makueni need to know the truth and demand for accountability,” he said in the post.
The exchange of bitter words between the leaders elicited a flurry of reactions from residents on social media with a majority turning the heat on the Governor for incompetence.
The post that drew more than 400 comments was however immediately pulled down following a mounting criticism directed towards the governor who seems to enjoy majority support.