A section of members of parliament from Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Counties have urged Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua to ignore his critics and instead focus on development.
The legislatures who included Regina Ndambuki (Kilome), Benson Mbayi (Masinga), Rachael Namai (Kitui South), John Munuve (Mwingi North) and John Mutambo (Mwingi Central) said the governor's critics were jealous of his development record given that they have nothing to show to their electorates despite having been in leadership positions for many years.
The law makers who spoke at a public rally in Athi River Town on Monday said they would rally behind the governor who emerged the best implementer of devolved functions.
"I commend governor Mutua for emerging the best hence making Machakos County be ranked number one in terms of development among the 47 counties. We as MPs from Ukambani region support the governor's development and condemn destructive politics," said Ndambuki.
Mbayi said it is high time leaders from the region joined the governor in propelling the development agenda in their backyards saying that politics of insults and war ended in the year 1963.
"I am happy to witness Governor Mutua providing free water to the residents of Slaughter village in Mavoko Constituency. I have never heard of any constituency across the entire country where water is availed to residents at no cost. Let us leave politics as leaders and implement development. We should all speak one language of supporting development," said Mbayi.
Namai said the water project which had been implemented by Machakos County government would improve the living standards of residents given that they were already assured of better sanitation.
She said Mutua should not be criticised for working closely with the national government arguing the good working relationship made his county be among the first ones to benefit from medical equipment from the state, thereby ensuring quality health care.
"We as MPs are supporting politics that support development. I have come to Machakos to bench mark developmental projects to take to Kitui for replication," said Namai.
The MP's urged Mutua to go to President Uhuru Kenyatta and present the needs of residents from all the counties in Ukambani just as he had done with Machakos.