Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event. [Photo/ citizentv.co.ke]
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has hit out at the national government for passing debts acquired from implementing water projects to counties.The outspoken county boss who was re-elected on an ODM ticket accused the national government of executing roles that are meant to be devolved to counties. He castigated the government for interfering with projects meant to be implemented by county governments, citing the ongoing construction of water projects in the Coast region.The deputy ODM leader said the over borrowing by the State in a bid to launch water projects in the Coast region will push public debt of the affected counties to unsustainable levels. Joho demanded the closure of all expenses of the projects and the accrued loan and criticised the Jubilee government for not involving the affected county governments in the projects.“Jubilee has usurped the roles of counties. In the Coast, a flurry of water expansion projects are being financed by loans which counties will later be required to pay,” said Joho. He further warned the national government against engaging in corruption during the implementation of the projects. “Jubilee believes counties have no capacity to tender and select a firm that can lay down water pipes. We hope these projects are not turned into cash cows for corrupt individuals,” he added, as quoted by the Standard.The national government is preparing to launch the Mzima and Mwache water projects among others, with the aim of ending perennial water shortage in Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa counties.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Mombasa County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by joining this group and have it published. http://bit.ly/2BipYa6