Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) from across Kenya have warned that they will halt operations at county assemblies and stage a protest march to State House on Monday unless their demands are addressed.
This announcement came during the inaugural County Assemblies Forum held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where the MCAs voiced their frustrations over financial struggles and the lack of resources for fulfilling their duties.
Makueni MCA, Kalunda Wa Kalunda, made a strong statement during the meeting, saying, “If our demands are not met by Monday, we will paralyze all assemblies and take our protests directly to State House.”
This declaration was supported by other MCAs, who shared their grievances regarding the inadequate salaries and financial support they receive, despite their crucial role in overseeing the Governors’ actions.
MCAs emphasized that while they are responsible for ensuring the Governors’ accountability, their pay does not reflect the gravity of their duties.
They also lamented that they were often forced to beg for support from other leaders, as there is no dedicated development fund for their use.
Naivasha East MCA, Stanley Karanja, pointed out the pay disparities between MCAs and other county officials, noting, “We are expected to oversee a Governor earning over a million shillings, yet we are paid only Ksh86,000.”
This disparity has led to growing dissatisfaction among MCAs, who feel undervalued and underpaid for the work they do.
Furthermore, MCAs expressed frustration at the lack of support from Governors and Senators when it comes to key legislative changes, such as the County Pension Amendment Bill.
Kwale MCA, Hanifa Mwajirani, highlighted that the MCAs are the ones who are in constant touch with the people on the ground, unlike Senators and MPs who are often absent, spending most of their time in Nairobi.
“The MCA is the first person on the ground, meeting the people face-to-face, while Senators and MPs are always in Nairobi,” she said.
Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna, who attended the forum as the chief guest, expressed his support for the MCAs’ concerns. He acknowledged the important role they play, stating, “When a family cannot afford school fees for their child, the first person they turn to is the MCA.
Meanwhile, other elected leaders are busy in Nairobi making noise in Parliament.” Sifuna’s comments were a reflection of the critical position MCAs hold in their communities, despite the challenges they face.
The planned protest march to State House comes just before an upcoming meeting with the President, which is scheduled for next month during the County Assemblies Forum summit. The MCAs hope to have their issues addressed before the summit, but tensions were high during their meeting at KICC.
At one point, a heated argument broke out between Kakamega and Nairobi MCAs, leading to a scuffle that had to be broken up by Senator Sifuna.
The disagreement centered around accusations that Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok had been preventing other MCAs from expressing their views.
As the MCAs prepare for their protest, the coming days will reveal whether their demands for better pay, more support, and a dedicated development fund will be addressed or if they will follow through with their threatened actions.
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