Senate launches inquiry over Makueni County row
Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana. The Senate is set to launch urgent investigations into the Makueni crisis amid bitter fighting between the governor and county assembly. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Senate has launched an urgent inquiry into the crisis in Makueni following concerns that the county could soon be grounded by the ongoing wrangling between the governor and the county assembly.
The Senate Committee on Devolved Government, chaired by Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, has commenced investigations in a bid to save the county from descending into further trouble.
The committee on Tuesday asked Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana to appear before it on October 14 to give his side of the crisis.
The assembly members will then appear on October 15.
Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo is also expected to present her office’s view about the crisis on the same day.
Other interested members of the public are required to present their grievances on the afternoon of October 16.
The committee had planned to begin the investigations Tuesday with a visit to the county on a fact-finding mission, but the plan was scrapped at the last minute after Prof Kibwana asked for more time to prepare before facing the senators.
The committee will now sit in Nairobi and the county leaders will travel to the city to give their grievances.
A report will be tabled in the House thereafter.
Mr Murkomen said they had decided to carry out do a three-day inquiry in order to get to the bottom of the crisis, which began last year.
“The situation is a bit embarrassing, when you think about it (from) the perspective of devolution, but it was not expected. As a Senate, we are completely hesitant to think, contemplate or even imagine suspension of the county. The relationship between the governor and the county assembly is a little bit strained, but we are optimistic that the situation can be rescued. It is possible to mediate and the warring parties reconciled,” said Mr Murkomen at a press conference held at KICC on Tuesday.
SHOOTING DRAMA
A bitter fight between the two resulted in a shooting drama a week ago at the assembly grounds.
The lawmakers warned against pushing for the suspension of the county, saying it would set a bad precedent for other counties facing similar challenges.
“Suspension should be the last resort and even so should be exercised in extreme circumstances. The spirit of the Constitution is that of dialogue and reconciliation. We are asking the leaders of Makueni to give dialogue a chance,” said Busia Senator Amos Wako.
Majority Whip Beatrice Elachi asked the governor and the assembly to be ready to reconcile for the good of the county.
“It is unfortunate that we have come to this. It will be more unfortunate if we think of suspending the county of Makueni. We have other counties with more problems than this county, so suspending it will not be right. The parties would have to talk to find a way out,” said Ms Elachi, also a member of the committee.
The senators also expressed concerns about the way the Council of Governors had handled the matter, saying the law did not back their calls for a suspension.
“What is alarming the Senate is to hear our governors announcing that a county should be suspended. If you read the law, it was never contemplated that a governor, a senator or an MCA would ask for the suspension of the county government. The law only allows a member of the public who does not have interest in the matter,” said Mr Murkomen.
