Kisumu County Assembly will hold its first plenary sittings outside the main chamber beginning this month in an effort to engage directly with the public.

Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on Wednesday passed a motion allowing the Assembly to conduct its sessions on rotational basis in all the seven sub-counties.

The decision now awaits formulation of administrative procedures and gazettement of the venues where the Assembly will transact business in the sub-counties.

Assembly roles

It will be the first time sittings will be convened outside Kisumu town, which hosts the debating chamber and offices.

The motion on the establishment of the county assembly ‘mashinani sittings’ was moved by Leader of Majority Kenneth Onyango.

Onyango said the move would facilitate interaction between MCAs and residents and enlighten the latter on the roles of the Assembly. He said decentralising the sittings would give the public an opportunity to actively engage and participate in the county legislative agenda. He said debate on five pending bills will be undertaken during the mashinani sessions.

Onyango said the sittings would also provide the MCAs with an opportunity to understand the issues affecting members of the public.

“The mashinani sittings will develop and strengthen partnerships within the county by creating interest among the public regarding the business of the county government,” said Onyango.

The House Leader of Majority said MCAs would also use the sittings to set the record straight about their activities, saying there had been a lot of negative publicity about the Assembly.

“The residents will get opportunity to present their views and witness the House responding to their concerns. They will definitely have a different viewpoint about our role as their representatives,” he said.

Kabonyo/Kanyagwal Ward Rep Oiko Pete said the grassroots sittings would enable residents to present emerging issues that affect them for discussion and encourage formal interaction with the public.

The sittings will be a replica of the recently in