Taita Taveta County leadership has vowed to work as a team in order for the region to realise the requisite developments.
In a joint meeting led by Governor Granton Samboja, the leaders committed to work tirelessly to ensure that the County’s revenue collections is improved.
“This time let us ignore all our political differences and affiliations for the sake of development. As a County leadership we have agreed to hold monthly meetings so that we can synergize for the betterment of datuzens,” said Samboja.
The leaders noted that loopholes in the revenue collection department should be sealed in order to improve the County's revenue collection.
“I request that we form a taskforce to help look into issues derailing our efforts to collect enough revenue. I'm sure as a County we are capable of collecting more than shillings 500 million as revenue annually,” said the clerk to County Assembly Michael Ngala.
To address the high wage bill in the County, Taveta MP Naomi Shaban proposed that a physical headcount be undertaken in the County to establish and kick out ghost workers if any.
Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime proposed that funds collected from County health facilities be used to boost the services in the same hospitals instead of channeling them to County revenue basket.
Senator Jones Mwaruma has vowed to work closely with the County Government to ensure the pending bills amounting to over Sh700 million together with the Sh70 million of imprests that were not surrendered are looked into in accordance with the law.
Speaker Meshack Maghanga appealed to County Assembly members to embrace unity in executing the development and service delivery plans by the County leadership.
Voi MP Jones Mlolwa emphasized on need for leaders to find a lasting solution on issues affecting education standards in the County.
“We can plan and execute a lot as leaders but if we don’t wake up and address the declining education standards in Taita Taveta then our future is doomed. Education is the pillar to development and time has come we hold hands together in finding a solution to this,” advised Mlolwa.
Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako challenged the County Government to formulate a policy restricting ECDE teachers from sending pupils home owing to lack of fees.
Also present during the meeting was Deputy Governor Majala Mlagui.