A Makueni MCA prefers to have funds allocated for the construction of public toilets in sports facilities diverted to roads.
People can relieve themselves in the bushes, Ilima ward representative Joseph Kaindu said during the debate on a motion sponsored by Bernadette Mutisya (nominated) on Wednesday.
According to the MCA, public toilets in a few facilities were not a priority when many markets did not have toilets.
“The priority in Ilima is better roads ... we have bushes where we can relieve ourselves but we don’t have roads to take us to facilities like hospitals,” Kaindu said.
His colleagues told him to instead focus on a forthcoming motion seeking to address the challenges of roads in the hilly areas of seven wards in the devolved unit.
“I would like to inform the member for Ilima that the budget for playgrounds comes from a different department and even if the toilets we are asking for are constructed it doesn’t mean they will eat into the roads budget,” MCA Elizabeth Mutindi said.
The legislator regretted to have somebody with that mentality for a colleague.
Nicholas Maitha (Thange) sought the speaker’s guidance and demanded that the MCA withdraws his statement. Kaindu stood his ground.
“Mr Speaker, we would rather go to the bushes and have better roads. Toilets will not facilitate our movement from one point to another,” the first time MCA insisted.
The motion was passed in the Wednesday session under speaker Douglas Mbilu.
Two weeks ago, Kilala market traders protested against paying taxes on a market day after the county government delayed the construction of a toilet that had collapsed.
They feared to contract water-borne diseases and cholera during rainy seasons since people relieved themselves in the bushes and behind buildings.
