COUNTY POLITICS: When the tide turned in favour of Jubilee in the Bungoma County Assembly
The dissolution of the New Ford Kenya party last year handed the Jubilee Alliance the outright majority stake in the Bungoma County Assembly, overturning fortunes for the Opposition, which controlled the legislature before.
The move meant that Governor Ken Lusaka was able to push for laws and amendments without much resistance.
There have also been changes in the House leadership with Bumula MCA Henry Nyongesa replacing his Khalaba counterpart Majimbo Okumu of ODM.
But even before the dissolution, Mr Benard Wakamala, a resident, had notified Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u that the Jubilee Alliance had the majority given there was an existing pact between the governor’s party and the ruling outfit. The Speaker, Mr John Makali, sponsored by ODM, has had to make a number of concessions to ward off prospects of impeachment.
Ms Ndung’u would later rule in Mr Wakamala’s favour.
“I analysed the numbers in the Assembly and saw that something was amiss. I informed our then New Ford Kenya party leader, Governor Ken Lusaka, who asked me to visit the office of the registrar where our fears were confirmed. We were now to hold a coup which eventually succeeded,” he told the Nation in what confirmed the governor’s hand in the changes.
Mr Wakamala argued that he was motivated by the fact that ODM had 14 MCAs, same as New Ford Kenya. The Jubilee Alliance and other affiliated parties had 35 members.
“We need an Assembly that can be controlled so that I do not meet a lot of resistance. There is no way we can prosper if the assembly is led by the Opposition. Basically, we will encounter a lot of resistance that will paralyse the planned projects. In the end, it is the people who will suffer,” said Mr Lusaka.
THE CLERK
Mr Ali Mutoka, the Maraka MCA, is the new leader of minority as Mr John Mosongo became the clerk. Mr Mutoka replaced his Ndivisi counterpart John Musakali.
Mr Okumu had been one of the fiercest critics of the executive arm of government, never shying away from pointing out what he felt was the shortcoming of the incumbent.
At one point during the emergence of a report about the purchase of wheelbarrows at Sh1 million, Mr Okumu led residents in a demonstration that paralysed business and transport in Bungoma Town. He was later charged with injuring a guard at the governor’s office and breaking window panes. The case is ongoing.
Mr Nyongesa said operations had become smooth and called on other MCAs to support them pass Bills that will help the residents before their term expires.
The Assembly debated and passed more than 20 Bills into law. One of the landmark laws was on traditional alcohol allowing people to consume busaa while ensuring that hygiene and other government regulations were adhered to. “The passage of such laws will regularise issues and ensure that everything is done according to the law. Nothing will be done haphazardly,” he said.
The national government has, however, termed the law as inconsistent with the laws of the land, putting the two at loggerheads.
The Speaker praises the MCAs for operating above party loyalty. “The Assembly has played its role without paying attention to the tempting parochial party interests,” he said.
