Machakos leaders opposed to Governor Alfred Mutua's leadership have called on traders operating businesses in the county to stop remitting taxes to the county government.
Senator Johnstone Muthama and Deputy Governor Benard Kiala led 20 members of county assembly from the region; elected and nominated, to explain to Machakos residents on how public fund was being utilized by the county's executive under the stewardship of Governor Mutua.
The leaders, who addressed the public at a political rally in Athi River town, Mavoko sub-county on Sunday, accused the county's leadership of being corrupt and misusing public funds and resources for personal interests of few individuals.
He argued that there was no need for the residents to remit taxes to the county government, only for the money to be misused by few individuals with no proper service provision to the tax payers.
He said that county employees from all sub-counties within Machakos had expressed frustrations from the county government due to poor terms and conditions of work, especially meager and delayed payments of their salaries.
“Medics, workers, contractors and majority of residents across the county are crying of either poor, delayed payment of salaries or exploitation and improper delivery of services due to misplaced priorities of projects," said Muthama.
Muthama ordered the county government to reinstate the sacked employees arguing that most of those who were employed at the county's managerial positions hailed from Kitui and Makueni, while indigenous residents were languishing in abject poverty due to joblessness.
"Let residents of Machakos County be employed in their own sub counties instead of hiring nonresidents who derail the county's economy without mercy," said Muthama.