Former Machakos Deputy Governor Benard Kiala has lauded Governor Alfred Mutua for launching the Sh50 million roofing program in the county.
Kiala said the governor has a good intention of improving residents' living standards through the project.
He urged the locals to embrace the initiative stating that Mutua was already fulfilling his 2017 election campaign's manifesto.
"I wish to laud the efforts of H.E Governor Alfred Mutua to provide quality alternative roofing to the people of Machakos County. The optimists will proclaim this project as changing living standards and the pessimist will be afraid this is true," Kiala said.
Kiala spoke to this writer on the phone on Friday.
His comments came a day after residents and leaders bashed the governor for launching the project.
Some of them claimed that the project is unsustainable and wouldn't make an impact to the residents nor improve their living standards.
Kiala parted ways with Mutua in early 2014 after he criticized the governor for failing to deliver to the people.
In 2015, he unleashed his plans of succeeding the governor by vying on a Wiper party ticket.
However, he was beaten by former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti in the party's primaries before he unsuccessfully attempted to rally for Machakos gubernatorial position as an independent candidate.
Kiala later dropped his bid for the race a few days before the August 8, 2017, general elections.
His remarks were received with shock by Machakos residents who wondered why the former deputy governor suddenly changed his perception on Mutua.