Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando has taken a swipe at a section of Mt Kenya governors over their complaints on delayed disbursement of funds by Treasury.
In a statement on Twitter on Saturday, the former lawmaker wondered why the county bosses are expressing their frustration in the media whereas they have been with the President and Deputy President.
"IBEC chair Rigathi Gachagua CoG chair Anne Waiguru, both of UDA, were in Nyeri together with the other four complaining Mt. Kenya governors. President Ruto was with all of them a few days ago," Kabando said.
Counties have not received any resources since December last year and are demanding for the release of Sh125.8 billion by the National Treasury.
"To whom are these UDA honchos complaining in media about Treasury failure to release devolution money?" he posed.
Five governors from the Mt Kenya region held a presser on Saturday and decried failure over Treasury's failure to release funds to counties.
Led by Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru, the governors said they are almost facing a crunch down of services due to lack of funds.
Waiguru asked the National Treasury to prioritise county governments even as she acknowledged that there is a financial crisis.
“I understand there is a strain but even as they pay salaries at the national level we urging them to remember those county governments also employ civil servants," she said.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said counties are unable to pay salaries and service providers such as KPLC may soon switch off power.
"Any time counties will close down because we cannot continue operating on credit. Even our providers get to a level where they are well exhausted."
Kahiga asked the Treasury to play the role of arbiter instead of siding with the national government over the impasse.
"What will happen is if it continues then we will send all our employees on leave and wait until money is available," he said.
Kabando asked the Senate and county assemblies to intervene and save devolution from imminent collapse.
The former lawmaker said media statements by governors will do little to rescue the situation and termed the delay in disbursing the funds as sabotage of devolution by the government.
"If those accompanying Ruto and Rigathi daily hold sidelines media conferences to 'petition', aren't they rewriting the biblical book of lamentations? Why not just say UDA has failed? he remarked.