The West Pokot County Assembly is bracing for hard economic times as members of the County assembly and staff have missed salaries for three months now.
This comes after the County assembly clerk Mr. David Karungutiang, a signatory to the assembly bank accounts, was suspended for 90 days.
However, a section of MCAs who blamed the County assembly speaker Catherine Mukenyang for the woes affecting them last week threatened to impeach her if she failed to resign due to what the MCAs alleged was bad governance and corruption within the assembly.
At a press conference in Kapenguria , the leaders led by Suam MCA Mr. Robert Komole said that their lives and service delivery have been affected as there is no morale.
“We have many debts, loans and we have not paid rent. We are walking on foot and our families have no food because of one person. The suspension of the clerk for 90 days was unlawful and it was done because he never served her interest,” Komole said.
The leaders who strongly condemned the unlawful and unnecessary reshuffles in the County assembly accused the speaker of engaging in early politics.
He said that the speaker was biased and practicing favoritism, noting that the senior accountant, the director of budget have also been shuffled from their positions. Komole faulted the speaker over irregular suspensions of competent County assembly employees and replacing them with unqualified officers, a move that has led to the delayed pay.
County assembly Speaker Catherine Mukenyang has defended herself citing that the delayed salaries is as a result of the said the assembly clerk, who was facing disciplinary action, failing to handover his docket. She said the issue has been sorted and they’ll receive their salaries soon.
According to Mukenyang there is nothing wrong in the management and running of the West Pokot County assembly and that the alleged misunderstanding with Governor John Lonyangapuo is political.
“I’m running the assembly in accordance with the law. The Governor tried using some MCAs to bring division to the house after his intended change of house leadership was rejected by the KANU party,” she said.
Mukenyang and KANU nominated member of County Assembly Mr. Elijah Kaseuseu days ago claimed that their lives are in danger after allegedly receiving threats from Governor Lonyangapuo.