Busia MCAs barricade chief officer's door over bursaries

Drama unfolded at the Busia County Government education offices on Monday afternoon after about 50 MCAs stormed the building and closed the premises, demanding release of bursary funds.

Armed with hammers, nails, wooden planks and padlocks, the ward representatives marched from the County Assembly chambers to the offices, about 300 metres away, demanding answers from department’s chief officer Mr Joel Barua.

BARRICADE

After failing to meet the top official at the offices, they contacted him on phone and were informed he was out for lunch.

However, his response that they direct their grievances to a junior officer in the department “since I am heading to an official meeting” thereafter, seemed to have irked the MCAs.

They then resolved to barricade the offices and lock out the official by hammering in place the wooden planks.

Led by Education Committee Chairperson in the County Assembly Linus Asiba (Matayos South), Gardy Jakah (Bukhayo North/Walasti) and Beatrice Kanoti (Bwiri), the MCAs demanded Mr Barua’s resignation of Mr Barua whom they accused of sleeping on the job at the expense of delivering services to residents.

“We are experiencing poor service delivery from a number of County Government departments. For instance the Education department did not disburse bursaries for financial year 2016/17. We don’t want to experience similar fate this year,” said Mr Asiba.

BURSARIES

Marachi Central MCA Patrick Obuya said bursaries amounting to Sh2.5 million and Sh450,000 for vocational training for his area had not been released.

Mr Jakah questioned how they were supposed to plan for the 2017/18 financial year yet they had not received money for 2016/17.

“Last year we allocated money for bursaries but to date it is yet to be released. This simply means that we have officers who are incompetent and lazy…We will make sure we send home all officers who have failed to discharge their duties diligently,” he said.

Ms Kanoti also accused Mr Barua of belittling them whenever they visit his office to seek services.

“Mr Barua has failed in his duties. Last year our children didn’t get bursaries and we fear we are going the same route. We have students who excelled in last year’s national examinations who are still at home. The committee at the County Assembly played its role but Mr Barua and his team are still in laxity mood.

“We have taken a step further today by visit his office and to our surprise by 2.30pm he is still having lunch. This means he reports on duty when he feels like yet his mandate is to serve the people of Busia. We will not allow this from today henceforth,” she warned.

WARNING

The MCAs had earlier stormed the Roads and Public Works docket.

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has vowed to crack the whip on incompetent county officers who fail in their mandate.

He warned that he would not allow joyriders in the next cabinet to be unveiled in February.

Busia OCPD Masai Makau said the matter between MCAs and the county education office is "internal" and police would only respond if called it by the county security team.