Hands off ward offices, court orders authority

The Transitional Authority has been ordered to allow MCAs to open offices and hire staff in their wards.
High Court judge Isaac Lenaola issued the orders Thursday after the authority failed to appear in court or respond to a petition by MCAs demanding that it rescinds circulars it issued recommending the barring of opening of the ward offices.

COST THE TAXPAYER
“The establishment of ward offices is likely to duplicate and undermine the office of the ward administrator … and would cost the taxpayer in excess of Sh10.6 billion per year,” the circulars, dated January 28 and February 10, said.

Mandera County Assembly Speaker Abdikadir Sheikh said in documents filed in court that MCAs had contested the recommendations of the authority but had been told that they had been agreed by all devolution stakeholders.

The MCAs said the authority not only acted in contravention of the law but also undermined the principles and objectives of devolution.

Mr Sheikh said after consulting the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, it had been ascertained that the Sh10.6 billion cited by the authority was an exaggeration as it would only cost the taxpayer Sh650 million annually, which is Sh40,000 per month per ward.

He said funding for the ward offices had already been factored in the county budgets.

“We are apprehensive that our duty to ensure public participation in the affairs of the county assembly is being thwarted and it is therefore in the public interest that the suit is urgently heard and determined,” he said.

Justice Lenaola also ordered that the parties take the directions from the court on September 12.