Leaders from Machakos County have issued a stern warning against misuse of police by the county government’s leadership.
They included Senator Johnston Muthama (Machakos), Patrick Makau (Mavoko MP) and Robert Mbui (Kathiani MP).
Speaking at Athi River Primary School in Mavoko Sub-County on Wednesday, the trio said Governor Mutua had turned Machakos County to a “police state.”
“We are planning to engage residents from all sub-counties within Machakos in a grand demonstration intended to eject Mutua from his office,” said Muthama.
Muthama said that the police should not interfere with the demonstrations arguing the residents have got constitutional rights to hold peaceful demonstrations.
The leaders alleged Mutua for misusing police to harass the residents whenever they were demonstrating to express their grievances to the leadership of the county government.
“Mwala Sub-County residents have been teargassed today, Syokimau residents were beaten up at the governor’s office a while ago, people were attacked on Kangundo Road barely two weeks ago not forgetting that people were ferried from their homes to the Maendeleo Chap Chap launch in Machakos town early in the month only to be beaten by police,” said Muthama.
Makau said the residents will not be cowed through intimidation by the police but will continue to demand that their resources be well managed by leadership of the county government.
“Residents of Mavoko will keep demanding that their resources which are being mismanaged by the county government’s leadership be protected,” said Makau.
Makau said all leaders must do their jobs for which they were elected responsibly and protect public resources through effective and efficient utilization and service execution.
He said the county can go several miles and achieve great “real” development if the residents elect the right governor in the forthcoming 2017 polls.
Mbui on his part said the governor had not done any tangible development project as per his 2012/13 campaign’s manifesto for the three years he has been in power apart from engaging in politics of theatrics.
He faulted the county leadership for frustrating the residents through frequent attacks and intimidation by the police whenever they mobilized themselves in solidarity to seek answers to questions on their grievances, “for how long are we going to fight against ourselves?” Mbui asked.
Machakos governor’s press secretary Mutinda Mwanzia, refuted the claims stating that the police were never used by Governor Mutua but working within their mandate.
Mwanzia who spoke to the Star on the phone said the residents who had in different incidences been dispersed by the police in various parts of the county engaged in unlawful demonstrations.
He said Senator Muthama and politicians in his political camp had incited traders from the County against paying taxes that were legitimately passed by the Machakos County Assembly.
“My appeal is that youth and traders should see beyond the politics being played by Muthama and his team,” said Mwanzia.
Attempts to reach the Machakos County Commissioner for comment were futile, he could not be reached on the phone.