The Bungoma County assembly on Tuesday passed the people’s assembly bill amid sharp divisions from different camps that stood opposed in the house during the presentation of the bill by the Majority leader Florence Fulano Wekesa.
In her presentation, the majority leader said the bill seeks to bring equality and opportunity to Kenyans saying the people’s assembly will ensure appropriate measures will be undertaken to safeguard and promote devolution and the organs and instruments of devolution.
She added that it will also ensure the constitution of Kenya 2010 be undertaken to reform the structure of the executive and parliament and devolution and to reinforce concrete measures for the promotion of inclusivity.
Hon. Wekesa added that the house and its membership will participate in proceedings of the people’s assembly and will constitute a special college for the appointment or election of members, delegations and observers to the people’s assembly.
The motion was seconded by Siboti ward MCA Simiyu Wamusai who is also the Bungoma County assembly deputy speaker who said it’s only through the people’s assembly that the country will be able to redeem itself from issues that are derailing the residents.
He added that as leaders in the assembly elected on NASA affiliated parties they will ensure they give full support to the initiative saying residents will have an opportunity to express themselves better.
However, leaders affiliated to Jubilee party led by Mbakalo MCA Bethwel Mwambu Fwamba expressed their dissatisfaction with the motion, saying it will not add value to Kenyans as each honourable member in the house was elected by the electorate and there is no need for a people’s assembly.
He said it is unfortunate that the motion is faulting the independent electoral and boundaries commission yet it is the commission that was in charge of them being elected and even declared them as winners.
His sentiments were echoed by Lwandanyi ward Mca Tony Khaoya who said the motion was supposed to be presented in the national assembly saying bringing it to the County assembly is an ill motive to the people of Kenya.
Emotions ran high during the debate which prompted Jubilee members of the assembly to walk away from the house and after the motion was passed some members from Jubilee and NASA decided to settle their differences by engaging in a fist fight.
As a result, it took the intervention of sergeant at arms and fellow MCAs to separate Bokoli ward MCA Jack Kawa and Sudi Busolo of South Bukusu who had embroiled in a fight regarding the motion.