Decision-making on resources is a central theme in the Constitution. The dispersal of public money is made at both the national and county levels. The supreme law creates a framework that makes budgeting a political process by Parliament and county assemblies and superintended by the Controller of Budget.
MPs and county assemblies are also mandated to provide oversight in the distribution of the resources to ensure they are deployed to serve the public good. But it is unfortunate that individuals entrusted with oversight see their roles as an opportunity to pilfer those public resources. This works to defeat the intention of the Constitution, which is to ensure equity in the sharing of the national cake in an accountable and transparent manner.
Even more importantly, it is our constitutional decree that institutions of government such as Parliament and county assemblies exercise the authority delegated to them by the people. And the institutions exist to promote constitutionalism, good governance, devolution, human rights and the rule of law.
In a sense, it can be argued that members of county assemblies are the weakest link in the devolution project. County assemblies have been turned into theatres of the absurd and witch-hunts by ward representatives. Debates often degenerate into something a kin to bar brawls.
That is why we are disturbed by the latest incident in Nyamira county. A security guard working at the gates of the assembly building is fighting for his life after unknown people set afire the sentry where he was stationed.
The incident, which took place early yesterday morning, left the man with third-degree burns, according to doctors. The incident happened a few hours after Bomwagamo Ward Rep Julius Nyangana’s house was torched by unknown people.
We gather that MCAs disagreed over leadership changes in the Assembly after efforts to impeach Governor Amos Nyaribo failed. It is understood that ward reps have lined up another impeachment motion.
While we have no authority to defend the governor, we can state that endless disputes in counties such as Nyamira are hardly motivated by the public interest. They only serve the interests of bad-mannered, half-educated village politicians who bribed their way into county assemblies with an appetite for easy money. Nyamira’s political wars are an insult to the people.
