COUNTY POLITICS: Low work rate mars tenure of Nandi County ward reps

The tussle involving Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat, local MPs and ward representatives has been blamed for the county assembly’s poor performance over the past four years.  

The assembly has come under intense criticism for the small number of Bills it has passed since 2013.

In the past, Senator Stephen Sang and Woman Representative Zipporah Kering attributed such to the failure by the MCAs to play their legislative role well.

DEFRAUDING RESIDENTS
The MCAs have also been accused of only being interested in pieces of legislation that were to their advantage and not to improve the lives of the common mwanachi.

There have been sharp divisions among the ward reps when debating Bills, with some siding with the governor, and others calling for a special audit on how funds from the National Treasury were being utilised.

The division in the assembly was captured well when a section of MCAs rejected the approval of Sh35 million allocated for the construction of a gate on the border with Uasin Gishu County.

Some of the MCAs viewed the expenditure as extravagant and meant to defraud the public of funds.

Mr Sang says the assembly has underperformed in keeping the county executive on its toes on the use of public funds and delivering its promises to the electorate.

“It is unfortunate that the MCAs are drawing a lot of allowances yet they have nothing to show in terms of approved Bills that have impacted on the socio-economic development of the county,” said Mr Mathew Ng’eny a resident from Saos, Emgwen constituency.

TIGHT RACE
It is in the allocation of bursaries where the representatives will face tougher questions as they seek votes.

The county has 33 elected MCAs, most of whom are from the Jubilee Party, and 18 nominated.

Amani National Congress (ANC) that is led by National Super Alliance (Nasa) co-principal Musalia Mudavadi has three members in the assembly while Kanu has one.

Lawyer Edwin Cheluget is the County Speaker while Chepkumia Ward Rep Wilson Sang is the deputy.

Kaboi Ward MCA Julius Menjo (Jubilee) is the Majority Leader while his Kapkang’ani counterpart Eliud Kirong’o (ANC) is the Leader of Minority.

Nandi County has more than 400,000 registered voters and many aspirants have declared interest in what in viewed as a tight race in the Jubilee Party dominated region.

REHAB CENTRE
The county assembly passed the Nandi County Alcoholic and Drinks Bill of 2014 after more than 20 people died and several others were admitted at various hospitals after they consumed alcoholic drinks.

This followed plans by the county government to establish a multi-million shilling rehabilitation centre to combat drug abuse and consumption of illicit brews.

According to Governor Cleophas Lagat, consumption of illicit brews among the youth was to blame for the underdevelopment in the region and that the centre would empower them with entrepreneurship skills.

Mr Matthew Koech, a political analyst based in the county, said the Finance Bills and disharmony between the MCAs, the county executive and MPs, had impacted negatively on the growth of the local economy.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
According to him, the county assembly is required to introduce Bills that can woo investors to set up businesses in the region instead of chasing them away.

He said the MCAs had also shown a penchant for tenders and contracts, forgetting to play the role they were elected for.

As the elections near, the county assembly will remain in the spotlight, especially on the misunderstanding that has slowed down implementation of most developmental projects.