Why Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja has signed petition to dissolve his County Govt.

Taita Taveta County Governor, Granton Samboja, on Tuesday, July 2, signed a petition to dissolve his county government, citing frustrations his ward representatives have subjected him to.

Mr Samboja says “the MCAs have made it impossible for him to smoothly run the county government’s administrative work”.

Addressing journalists in Wundanyi on Tuesday, Mr Samboja said his decision was necessitated by wrangles over Ksh830 million that the MCAs allocated themselves through the Ward Development Fund.

The Taita Taveta County chief becomes the second governor to make the drastic decision ever since the 2010 Constitution was promulgated.

In October 2014, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana unsuccessfully petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to disband the county government following wrangles that pitted the county boss against his MCAs.

Just like in Kibwana’s case, for Samboja’s wish to be granted, the Head of State has to okay his [Samboja’s] bid to dissolve the county government.

Chapter 11, Part 6, Article 192 of Kenya’s Constitution says the president may suspend a county government– (a) in an emergency arising out of internal conflict or war; or (b) in any other exceptional circumstances.

“A county government shall not be suspended under clause unless an independent commission of inquiry has investigated allegations against the county government, the president is satisfied that the allegations are justified and the Senate has authorised the suspension,” says the law.

During a suspension under Article 192, arrangements shall be made for the performance of the functions of a county government in accordance with an Act of Parliament. The Senate may at any time terminate the suspension.

“A suspension under this Article (192) shall not extend beyond a period of ninety days,” says the Constitution.

Elections are held on the expiry of the 90 days.