West Pokot County assembly speaker Catherine Mukenyang has cancelled a special assembly sitting that was meant to address the West Pokot County supplementary budget for the year 2020/2021. The special sitting was set to be held on Thursday, December 10th, but the speaker notified members of the County assembly on the degazettement of the special sitting.
A letter seen by West Media which was addressed to the MCAs indicated that during West Pokot County Governor John Lonyangapuo and speaker Catherine Mukenyang agreed that the West Pokot Finance CEC Christine Apokoreng should stop meddling in County assembly affairs. The CEC is also accused of failing to introduce new signatories holders of the Central Bank of Kenya approved by the house and was requested to pay all claims and salaries due to the County assembly, “By the copy of this letter you have been notified that the special sitting stands cancelled and degazetted,” read part of the letter.
It further stated that the MCAs commenced their recess as from 2nd December 2020 to Tuesday February 9th 2021. The cancellation of the special sitting has dealt a blow to the West Pokot County government and a number of residents now want the disagreements between the executive and the County assembly to be dealt with. Some of the MCAs have supported the Speaker’s move while others have opposed it. Nominated MCA Elijah Kaseuseu said the County assembly is independent and the executive should arm twisting it.
He noted as the budget committee they held a meeting last week at Kisumu on the supplementary budget appropriation and after tabling their requests to the area Governor the executive refused to allow authorized signatories approved by the County assembly to the CBK. “The Governor disagreed with our proposals, he refused to pay allowances for the County assembly staff, and the Finance CEC refused to give the signature,” he said, “I support the speaker’s move.” Endugh ward MCA Evanson Lomaduny opposed the Speaker’s move, saying she is holding the County at ransom. He said she should have consulted the other members before degazetting the special sitting.