Unions want Kisumu County assembly suspended over chaos

Workers’ unions have asked Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma to initiate a process of suspending the County Assembly following persistent wrangles.

Speaking during this year’s Labour Day celebrations at Kenyatta Sports Ground, Kenya Electricals Traders and Allied workers Union sub branch secretary general Vincent Okulo said the wrangles were scaring away potential investors.

He told the governor that the County Assembly Members (MCAs) were a disgrace and shame to the residents and suspending all members and dissolving the assembly was the only solution.

The county Assembly in the past week dominated news headlines with the violent eviction of deputy Speaker Pamela Omino by members allied to suspended Leader of Majority Samuel Ong’ow.

And on Thursday, a group of youth and members of the civil society temporarily interrupted Assembly operations after they locked gates into the premises.

They accused Mr Ong’ow of defying a suspension order by ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba.

Mr Namwamba in the letter addressed to Mr Ong’ow, directed his suspension and hat of his deputy John Olum over allegations of gross misconduct.

Mr Okulo said: “The reputation has already been tainted and this is likely to impact negatively on wooing potential investors to the county.”

“Only two members have been suspended. We want all the members to be suspended because they are behaving badly,” Mr Okulo added.

Mr Joel Ondu, the branch secretary of Kenya County Government and Allied Workers Union said it was wrong for the assembly members to snub the Labour Day celebrations.

“They owe us an apology and explanations as to why they have been disrupting significant activities necessary for running the county,” Mr Ondu said.

“We are giving the MCAs a last chance. They have ashamed us in the past few weeks,” Mr George Ogolla, Maseno University students union secretary general said.

Kisumu County ODM chairman Dave Okwach said the party will convene a meeting next week on Monday to chat way forward on the recent wrangles that have marred the assembly.

“We know that there are some people with individual interests and these are some of the things that we are going to discuss,” he said.

Mr Ranguma said that it is in the interest of the MCAs to have a smooth working relationship to run the county effectively.

“I have formed a committee of experts who will start investigating the conflicts among the members,” Mr Ranguma said.