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County Assembly debates left to very few MCAs


Debate on crucial Bills and motions at the County Assembly has been left to a small group of Members of the County Assembly with dozens of others going for months without uttering a word.

As many as 59 MCAs could not be traced on the list of speakers on the floor since February 2014 despite the Assembly having debated 24 motions.

On the other hand, some MCAs have made as many as 15 contributions over the same period. Most of the active MCAs are in the Assembly Business Committee and have extra duties in the House.

Nominated MCAs

It is the same people who are active in bringing motions to the Assembly.

They are used by MCAs to get the authorities fix problems in their wards and the county at large. In this way, the residents can feel their votes’ worth.

Also notable was the poor contribution by nominated MCAs both on the floor of the Assembly as well as in bringing motions.

 

Some of the most active contributors on the floor include Mr Elias Okumu (Kileleshwa) who is the Majority leader, Mr Kamau Thuo (Karura), Mr David Mberia (Karen), Mr Peter Imwatok (Makongeni) and Mr Pius Otieno (Sarang’ombe).

Mr Otieno has the highest number of motions at three. These include one that required the county to facilitate youth groups to be involved in garbage collection ventures.

Another requires the county to construct Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in slums while the other asked the county government to equip all slums with minimum fire fighting equipment.

Bursary schemes

Mr David Kitavi (Laini Saba), Mr Maurice Akuk (Nyayo Highrise), and Ms Elizabeth Manyala (Kayole South) each have sponsored two motions.

Some of the motions that have passed include those by Mr Otieno and another requiring the county to set up bursary schemes which was sponsored by Mr Maxwell Ochar (Korogocho).

The other required the county to address issue of street children and it was sponsored by Ms Elizabeth Manyala (Kayole South).

Two motions were introduced last week. One was by nominated MCA Jane Muasya requiring the county to crack down on prostitution in the CBD and another by Mr Akuk requiring motorbikes and tuktuks to be banned from the CBD. They are yet to be debated. 

The information does not capture committee meetings where a lot of business is also discussed.