Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has defended Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria's demand for the 25 percent levy on water sourced from his county and consumed in Nairobi.
Muthama said the governor is right to demand for the money despite water being a natural resource.
"Although President Uhuru Kenyatta said we shouldn't fight over natural resources, Governor Wa Iria is right to ask for money for the water coming from his county," Muthama said.
He addressed the press in Matungulu, Machakos County on Sunday.
Muthama told Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Senator Boniface Kabaka to follow suit and ask for levy from the electricity produced in Masinga dam.
Muthama said this is the same way Kitui County leadership refused their coal to be mined unless proper plans are put in place on how the residents would benefit from the mining activity.
He gave an example of his mining company in Taita Taveta where he gives a certain percent levy of the stones he mines from the area.
"I give Taita Taveta County Government two percent loyalty fee of the sale of every single stone I mine as the National Government gets three percent. It's not much to ask that our people benefit when resources from their region are used," Muthama said.
The ex-senator told Mutua to come out and fight so as to ensure his people benefit from various natural resources in the county.
He also called for speedy compensation of residents to be displaced due to the construction of the Thwake mega-dam in Makueni County.
Muthama said water from Thwake dam will help the residents from Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties.
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