Fund assemblies directly for effective oversight, says Chief whip

Kiambu County Assembly Members (MCAs) now say all devolved units should be funded directly from the exchequer.

Assembly Chief Whip Nelson Munga (pictured), argued that there is need to strengthen the independence of county assemblies to enable them play their oversight role effectively.

The Ndeiya Ward Rep said funds set aside for assemblies should not be channelled through the Executive.

The MCA, who spoke to People Daily in Limuru town yesterday, reiterated that unless assemblies get their own funds to run their operations, they will remain toothless rubber stamps of the Executive.

“Funds meant for assemblies should be handled by the county legislative arm otherwise governors will continue holding on to the funds to frustrate their operations,” he noted.

 Chief Whip also said there is need for wards to be allocated funds with a view of enabling MCAs initiate development projects in their areas.

“It is noteworthy that currently MCAs are left at the mercy of governors to have their wards factored in terms of development and if respective governors deem it fit to leave his critics out, their (MCAs) popularity takes a nosedive trajectory,” Munga noted.

Munga, who recently successfully whipped members to reject five of Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s CEC nominees, discounted claims that members were induced financially and that the rejection was aimed at sending a political warning to the governor.

“Our recent rejection of a section of CEC nominees was informed by the fact that they didn’t meet the requisite threshold as required by the County Government Act,” he said.

He said that their action was a display of independence and had nothing to do with either malice or vendetta.