Nyeri MCAs oppose plan to set up Sh30m health club
Chinga Member of County Assembly (MCA) Mwangi Ngiria talks at a press conference at Outspan Hotel in Nyeri on June 6, 2016. With him are fellow MCAs Arthur Wachira of Konyu and Hadson Chege of Mukurwe-ini Central. They condemned a recent incident in which the public chased MCAs at Kabaru trading centre during a meeting by Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua and said that some of the leaders who were harassed were attending the assembly to support the governor. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Leaders say tender advert for construction of facility has been cancelled and project put on hold.
Members of County Assembly (MCAs) aligned to Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua have opposed plans to set up a contentious Sh30 million health club.
Five MCAs led by Minority Leader Arthur Wachira told a press conference that the tender advertisement for the health club had been cancelled and the project put on hold.
This was after a public uproar over the planned project, which had been initiated by an assembly committee. The governor has been opposing it.
According to the plans, the facility was supposed to have a well-equipped gym, a sauna and a luxury lounge.
“When the time comes to review the need for the facility, the matter will be subjected to public participation,” said Finance Committee Chairman Mwangi Ngiria.
In the supplementary budget approved in February, the assembly was allocated Sh90 million for development projects.
The county assembly has since spent Sh15 million in renovating a parking lot and erecting a perimeter wall.
In their statement, the MCAs said they would concentrate on ensuring that priority is given to development projects, instead of luxuries.
The leaders condemned their colleagues for causing chaos after they attempted to storm a meeting that was to be addressed by the governor last week. The intruders were attacked by an angry crowd.
However, the opposing faction comprising over 30 MCAs has criticised the meetings by the governor during his visits to various wards, claiming they are used to incite the residents against them.
“The governor is stirring violence among our people in meetings where we are not invited. It is wrong. We are only pushing for development,” said Wamagana MCA Jesse Kamuri.
The two factions are expected to class over the fate of County Secretary Alice Wachira, whom a section of MCAs have vowed to eject out of office.
The Legal Affairs Committee will table its findings in the assembly this week.
