A section of Meru County residents and a lobby group have begun the collection of signatures to dissolve county leadership.
The residents say they want the leadership suspended and new polls conducted as the infighting between the County governor and the county assembly has frustrated the implementation of development programs.
“This is a mwananchi-led process... mwananchi amejitolea mwenyewe kile tumefanya tu ni kuwasaidi kuwaonyesha kuwa wana uwezo,” says David Karani from the Meru Civil Society.
Article 192 of the Constitution outlines the process for suspending a county government and gives the president the final say over its dissolution.
In an emergency resulting from an internal conflict or war, or in any other extraordinary scenario, a county government may be wound up.
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“We are doing it according to article 192(1)b which falls under unusual circumstances, its time that the mwananchi got the power back to their hands,” Karani said.
The residents who spearheaded the activity at Nkubu town in Imenti South Constituency have said they are doing so because Meru has stagnated in development due to the wrangling.
“Hii hatua imechukuliwa ni nzuri na tunaomba hata President Ruto hizo saini zikisanywa, atuwekee sign turudi kura sababu anaweza kataa,” says James Mwenda, a resident.
“Meru tumesema wameru wote wamekubali Meru ivunjwe ndio tupatae maendeleo hii msukumano hatutawezana nayo sababu hakuna kitu tunafanyiwa Meru,” adds Kirimi John a resident.
Among those who appended their signatures was Kiagu Ward MCA Kiambi Ngaruni, known to be allied to Governor Mwangaza.
He said he was ready to go back to the ballot because, despite being elected, he could not carry out his duties effectively.
“Mimi naomba hii power turegeshee wananchi wachague viongozi watafanya kazi. Mimi kama mwenye nilichaguliwa nimesign kudissolve county government watu wale wanataka kuomba kiti wajiandae, leo nimejifuta hapa na sirudi nyumbani,” said Kiambi.
The suspension sought will only be granted if an independent commission of inquiry investigates allegations against the county government to the satisfaction of the president and with the authorization of the senate.
