The row pitting the West Pokot County assembly speaker Catherine Mukenyang and a section of MCAs over the leadership changes is far from over after their wars escalated on Wednesday during an afternoon County assembly session.
A section of the MCAs have accused the assembly speaker Catherine Mukenyang of conducting house business like her private firm citing that they have been secluded not knowing what’s happening in the chambers.
The members said they are tired of the speaker, who is bullying them alleging that the speaker has reduced the County assembly chambers into her private home where she does what she feels suits her interests.
Led by the deputy speaker Francis Krop, the MCAs said they were left perturbed outside the tents during the Wednesday afternoon session, only to get a message at 3.00pm that the assembly session had been ongoing inside the assembly and was later adjourned to 2:30pm on Thursday.
They said the County assembly had made arrangements for the sessions to be conducted outside the chambers so that all the 33 members could attend due to Covid-19 regulations but they later realized 11 members were in the chambers and house business was ongoing.
They said members have been selected in an unfair manner to attend the house sittings since they resumed sessions on 11th June 2020.
David Kapelesiwa, the Weiwei MCA said justice has not been served since the wrangles began citing that they will not allow any business to be transacted inside the chambers unless the sessions are held from the erected tents where the 33 members will have their own seats.
Evanson Lomaduny, Endugh ward MCA, lamented that the contingent of police officers deployed at the County assembly premises implied the assembly had turned into a battle ground. “Our work is to represent and legislate. If the budget will not sail through the speaker will be answerable for failing West Pokot residents,” she said.
Nominated MCA Nancy Chombir who is also the majority deputy chief whip said the County’s 2020/2021 budget may not be passed because of supremacy battles and cat and mouse games that have taken centre stage at the assembly. “The drama will continue even if they bring ten lorries of police officers to man the assembly we will continue fighting for our rights, we are not relenting until we win the battle,” she said.
Responding to the allegations, the County speaker Mrs Mukenyang said the afternoon session was meant to give the Finance CEC an opportunity to pronounce budget highlights and revenue raising measures but at 1:23 pm she received a letter from the CEC stating that he won’t be able to attend because of inconveniences that arose in his office.
The speaker firmly stated that nothing will hinder the budget process and by the end of next week the budget will be tabled before the house and be adopted. “The budget committee and the whole house are prepared to go for a two day retreat to deliberate on the budget. I want to assure the public that we are more than prepared to adopt the budget for the benefit of West Pokot County residents,” she said.
She said the leader of majority and minority and the chief whips have been tasked to select the first 11 members every day to attend sessions because of the Covid-19 regulations.