This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
On Tuesday, Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja embarked on a campaign to dissolve the county government and pave the way for fresh elections, citing the need for a new mandate from the people.
According to the governor, the move is aimed at giving the people of Taita Taveta the best gift – the opportunity to choose their leaders afresh.
"I think the best gift we can give to the people of Taita Taveta is to go back to elections so that we’re chosen afresh," he said during a press address.
The governor's decision comes on the backdrop of a squabble with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) over a controversial budget for the financial year 2019/20.
Published on July 2, 2019, at 21:13:25, the budget allocated Ksh.41.6 million to each of the MCAs' respective wards, totaling Ksh.5.3 billion.
However, Governor Samboja rubbished the budget, stating that the county would operate on a deficit.
He called upon Taita Taveta County residents to participate in the signature collection drive, which aims to reach at least 18,000 people, to authenticate the move.
"It is now all systems go, let us go to the villages and ask the people for votes. I want to ask the people of Taita Taveta to conduct this process in a peaceful manner," he added.
