MCAs plot to match council of governor's influence
What you need to know:
- The County Assemblies Forum (CAF) on Tuesday said that the additional collections from a previously set Sh500,000 seeks to increase the voice of the MCAs as that of governors.
- Mr Stephen Ambulwa, the forum executive committee member, said that the increased contributions will also be used to hold the lobby elections planned for October.
- The forum is chaired by Tana River Speaker Dr Abdi Nuh deputised by Nakuru’s Susan Kihika. Elgeyo Marakwet Speaker Albert Kochei is the secretary general while impeached Kisumu speaker Ann Adul was the treasurer.
County Assemblies will each contribute Sh3 million every year to make their lobby powerful and rival the vocal Council of Governors.
The County Assemblies Forum (CAF) on Tuesday said that the additional collections from a previously set Sh500,000 seeks to increase the voice of the MCAs as that of governors.
The forum officials say the governors had overshadowed them following their financial muscle.
Mr Stephen Ambulwa, the forum executive committee member, said that the increased contributions will also be used to hold the lobby elections planned for October.
“We cannot have a powerful body for all of us if we do not have the money. The Council of Governors is powerful because they give themselves enough money to push their agenda,” Mr Ambulwa told the Nation.co.ke by phone.
The group brings together all the 2,224 MCAs and the 47 speakers.
Mr Ambulwa, who is also the Kakamega Assembly minority leader, was responding to concerns that the forum had lost voice in the face of a vocal Council of Governors, led by Meru’s Peter Munya.
The governors’ group reportedly gets Sh22 million annually as contributions from each county, totalling Sh1.03 billion. The new proposals by the MCAs will generate a total Sh141 million, an amount seven times less of what governors collect.
Vihiga Speaker Dan Chitwah, an executive committee member of the forum, said that though their proposed contribution is less than that of the governors, it will give them an edge in lobbying for their interests.
“The current Sh500,000 that we give as assemblies is a drop in the ocean compared to the millions given by governors. As a body, we want to increase our voice so that we are never taken for granted anymore,” said Mr Chitwah in an earlier interview.
A section of MCAs have been pushing for a powerful forum, accusing the speakers of hijacking the outfit to push for their own needs.
The forum is chaired by Tana River Speaker Abdi Nuh, with Nakuru’s Susan Kihika as his deputy. Elgeyo-Marakwet Speaker Albert Kochei is the secretary-general while impeached Kisumu Speaker Ann Adul was the treasurer.
“The forum is just dead and the MCAs now want to take their place in it. We need a powerful lobby group and the contributions is one way towards that achievement,” said Uasin Gishu Majority Leader Josphat Lowoi in an earlier interview.
