MCAs faulted on push for spouses’ allowances
What you need to know:
- Ford People Chairman Henry Obwocha, and former MPs Walter Nyambati and Mwancha Okioma, among other leaders, told MCAs to abandon the push for the money, saying it was unjustified.
- Last week, some MCAs from Runyenjes Central asked the government to compensate the wives, who are often lonely when the leaders travel outside the country and sometimes stay out late when serving their electorate.
Members of county assemblies have been asked to stop agitating for allowances for their spouses.
Ford People Chairman Henry Obwocha, and former MPs Walter Nyambati and Mwancha Okioma, among other leaders, told MCAs to abandon the push for the money, saying it was unjustified.
They spoke at the weekend during the burial of Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama’s daughter, Catherine, at Ekebuse Primary School in Borabu District.
“Kenyans want MCAs to use county funds for development projects, not to be spent in allowances for their spouses,” said Mr Obwocha.
Mr Nyambati said it was laughable for the ward representatives to demand allowances for their spouses, who do not offer any service to the public.
Last week, some MCAs from Runyenjes Central asked the government to compensate the wives, who are often lonely when the leaders travel outside the country and sometimes stay out late when serving their electorate.
However, MCAs who attended the burial in Nyamira said the request had been made by one of their colleagues in Embu County, and not all of them.
The ward representatives present at the funeral — who included Mr Robinson Mocheche, Mrs Teresa Nyaanga, Mr Alfayo Ngeresa and Mr Jackson Mogusu — said the request had not been approved by all MCAs.
“Some of us don’t want our spouses to be paid such allowances,” said Mr Mochache.
Nyamira County Speaker Joash Nyamoko asked those opposed to MCAs seeking monthly allowances for spouses not to demonise their colleagues as the matter was a mere proposal.
At the same time, West Mugirango MP James Gesami said he was now ready to work with governor Nyagarama to steer developments in Nyamira.
The two differed in the past.
Borabu MP Ben Momanyi took issue with his colleagues for being critical of Mr Nyagarama’s leadership.
He said that they should give the governor time to provide services to the residents.
He agreed with County Commissioner Josephine Onunga that cattle rustling is a major problem in Borabu, saying it needs to be addressed with the seriousness it deserves.
Mrs Onunga asked sub-county commissioners along the Nyanza and Rift Valley borders to ensure rustling between Kisii and Kalenjin communities was stamped out.
She spoke a day after a suspected cattle thief was killed by villagers at Isoge sub-location in Ensakia location, Borabu, in a foiled raid on Thursday night.
Area Senior Chief Nicholas Mong’are said Mr Mokono Ondieki was lynched when he attempted to steal cattle belonging to Mr Kiage Getiro.
