Crisis looms as Nairobi County Assembly resumes sittings

The Nairobi County Assembly during a past session. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The assembly is also embroiled in a tussle with the executive over office space.
  • Speaker Alex ole Magelo has said that the House will not transact any business that will benefit the executive.
  • A motion seeking to impeach Governor Evans Kidero is expected to bring heated debate in the House.

The Nairobi County Assembly resumes sittings Tuesday after a recess, with MCAs expected to hold the executive to ransom as they demand a Sh62 million gratuity.

At the same time, a motion seeking to impeach Governor Evans Kidero is expected to bring back heated debate in the House.

The standoff between the MCAs and the executive will most likely see the county assembly delay the passing of a supplementary budget.

Services in the city county could grind to a halt if the MCAs do not pass the pending Sh34.1 billion supplementary budget.

The assembly is also embroiled in a tussle with the executive over office space.

MCAs are expected to lift the ban stopping business transactions with the executive after the two fought over office space.

BAN ON EXECUTIVE BUSINESS

County assembly Speaker Alex ole Magelo has said the House will not transact any business that benefits the executive until their demands are met.

“Who said I will be lifting the ban [not] to carry out business transactions with the executive? We have been asking them to give us our gratuity and they refused. My hands are tied,” said Mr Magelo.

The Speaker said the executive has not given them a choice but to stop the County Annual Development Plan 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 and the County Fiscal Strategy Paper 2017/2018, estimates for the 2017/18 budget, the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill.

The Speaker said MCAs will be on his neck if the money is not released bearing in mind that it is the last budget to be passed by the assembly.