This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On July 3, 2019, Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja sparked controversy by petitioning to dissolve the county over a budget impasse with the county assembly.
Samboja claims that members of the county assembly are holding his administration hostage for selfish reasons, undermining his development plans.
The governor wants the county dissolved and residents subjected to fresh elections, citing a 5.3 billion shilling budget that he claims will bring county operations to a halt.
According to Samboja, the county assembly's allocation of 41.5 million shillings to each member, as well as 830 million shillings through the ward development fund, is a clear indication of their selfish motives.
Residents of Wundanyi have vowed to support the petition, citing the county assembly's failure to deliver on their promises to the electorate.
The Constitution only allows for the suspension of a county government by the President in exceptional circumstances, which must be approved by the Senate.
