Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to cut ‘wasteful’ expenditure by his administration and deliver services to Kenyans.
Mutua said it was important to put austerity measures on both the county and national and governments as Covid-19 ravages the economy.
“I have worked in government for a long time and government is full of wastage. Let us appoint teams in every ministry to cut down on wastage so that more money can be pumped into development,” Mutua said.
The governor spoke during a tree-planting drive at Kwanzambu dam in Yatta subcounty on Saturday.
"Many Kenyans are suffering due to job losses and declining economy arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. I therefore respectfully urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to enforce measures to eradicate wasteful spending in government in order to redirect the available resources to address the needs of wananchi," Mutua said.
Mutua said similar measures have been taken and were being implemented in Machakos county.
“Here in Machakos I have adopted the same policy and all departments are under firm instructions to comply with spending only on basic and necessary needs," Mutua said.
He warned county staffers that they risk losing their jobs if they go against the guidelines.
Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, Machakos county commissioner Fredrick Ndunga and Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo were present at the event.
Over 50,000 trees were distributed to residents for planting, with Mutua urging locals to use the ongoing rains to plant more to boost the county's forest cover.
Ndunga ordered chiefs to take the responsibility of nurturing the planted trees.
“Chiefs, one of your principal responsibilities will be visiting this place every morning. Each morning, you pass here and ensure that these seedlings are okay,” Ndunga said.
Mutua said: “As we plant these trees, it is important to protect the environment. Because drought has increased in African continent due to deforestation.”
Chepkwony said Kericho county donated a second batch of 50,000 tree seedlings. It had donated 50,000 more seedlings to Machakos county in 2017. The trees were planted in Kangundo and Kathiani subcounties.
Joel Kitili from the Ministry of Environment said Machakos had a 3.35 per cent tree cover according to the ministry's records. Kericho has 22 per cent tree cover, he said.
"I thank the Council of Governors for taking tree planting as one of the activities ahead of the seventh and final devolution conference scheduled for August," Kitili said.
(edited by o. owino)
