Deputy President William Ruto with Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua during
a ceremony to mark Machakos Girls High School's centenary celebrations.
Dr Mutua has said he will continue working with the government so as to
ensure development in his county. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has insisted he will continue
working with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto
for the benefit of the county’s residents.
Although he
reiterated he was still a member of the Wiper Party, Dr Mutua said there
was nothing wrong with working with the ruling Jubilee Alliance as long
as “my people get to benefit”.
“I need to get my
people out of poverty and my interest in Uhuru and Ruto will continue
because they are helping my people,” he told the Nation in an interview
Saturday.
The governor castigated his opponents who are
against his perceived closeness with the Jubilee leadership, saying
they were only interested in “politics of poverty”, whereas his was
“politics of development”.
Some leaders in the Opposing
Cord coalition in which Wiper Party is a member have accused Dr Mutua
of abandoning the Opposition and having a dalliance with the government.
DENIED GRAFT CLAIMS
The
governor is also at loggerheads with his deputy Bernard Kiala, who has
accused him of abetting corruption and poor leadership, claims Dr Mutua
has denied.
Dr Mutua defended suspended Land, Housing
and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu who has been
charged in court for allegedly blocking investigations into the Karen
land saga, saying she would be vindicated.
Early this month, Dr Mutua hosted President Kenyatta who commissioned the newly upgraded Machakos Hospital.
“My
people elected me to go and hunt for them and I can only go to hunt in a
forest which has animals,” he said alluding to his association with the
president.
Dr Mutua added that he was ready to work
with any leader who was concerned about the welfare of the people of
Machakos and the entire Ukambani region.
“I am in Wiper
but as a governor, and head of my government, I will talk and interact
with other heads of government so as to get development resources for my
people,” he said.