Former Taita Taveta County leaders led by the immediate former Governor John Mruttu have called for dialogue between Governor Granton Samboja and the county assembly to end the stand off curently facing the county.

In a statement, the  former leaders including former county senator Dan Mwazo, Joyce Lay (Woman representative), Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi) and former assistant minister Callistus Mwatela said they are behind the clergy from the county who have also been calling for dialogue.

"As stakeholders on issues affecting Taita Taveta county, we support the constitutional right of the clergy and any other part or individuals in airing their opinions in a matter that affects them directly or indirectly" reads the statement.

Adding " Ours is not to judge which side is right and which one is wrong but rather to insist that in Kenya there is freedom of expression in accordance with the constitution.

The leaders further condemned the attack on the clergy by some leaders.

"We wish to remind each one of us that during our darkest moments as a country, Kenya benefited immensely from the opinions of the clergy" they said.

The stand off  between governor Samboja and the county assembly has been brought about by the disgareement in the budget proposals for the  2019/2020 financial year. Governor Samboja is against the move by the MCAs to allocate themselves more than Sh800 million for ward development through the county assembly. This saw the  county boss initiate a process of dissolving the county.

Last month the clergy issued a statement reiterating the need and importance of dialogue as a way of resolving the stand off.