Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has claimed that the political class is engaged in an elaborate scheme to divert Kenyans’ attention from the issues affecting them.
Mwangangi said politicians and those in leadership are ignoring real issues such as corruption in government, delayed release of funds to county governments and scandals bedeviling the government.
The DG said the ongoing standoff on the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President has been orchestrated to blindfold Kenyans from their problems.
Mwangangi, who is also the Whip in the deputy governors’ forum, argued that elected leaders must learn to serve Kenyans and fulfill their mandate and promises instead of engaging in a political circus that denies Kenyans progress.
“It is time that we as leaders realised that we have a contract with Kenyans, which we must fulfil diligently instead of engaging in diversionary political manoeuvres,’’ he told the Star on Tuesday.
The politician called on national and county leaders to serve Kenyans’ interests at all cost as promised during the campaign period instead of scheming against each other for political expediency.
“These impeachments against anybody are just meant to divert the attention of Kenyans from the real issues facing the country at the moment,’’ Mwangangi said.
“The issues within the political class are for their own convenience and not about Kenyans at all.’’
The former Yatta MP said that counties are staring at a total shutdown because the national government was yet to release their equitable share for the last three months.
“It is unfortunate that we are dealing with a government that is overseeing the killing of devolution by failing to release equitable share timely,’’ Mwangangi said.
The Machakos DG regretted that Kenyans could not be getting optimum services in the counties because of the low morale of workers who are crying for salary arrears.
“If you go to our health facilities, you will not get the best services because workers have no money since they have not been paid; the same case with critical areas like Agriculture which may affect the country’s long-term plans for food security,’’ he said.
Mwangangi said that unless the government swiftly releases money owed to counties since July, then services to Kenyans will be compromised significantly.
“You can’t expect someone who has not been paid a salary for months to serve effectively when they are thinking about fees arrears and unpaid rent,’’ he said.