THE STANDARD
KENYA
President Uhuru Kenyatta [File, Standard]
Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) may have to wait a little longer to benefit from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Sh4.5 billion car grant pledge.
Just days after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) chair Lynn Mengich gave the green light to governors to effect the conversion of the car loan into car grants in line with President Kenyatta’s pledge to MCAs, the Controller of Budget (CoB) is raising fundamental concerns that could slow implementation.
In a letter to SRC Chief Executive Officer Ann Gitau, the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango has cautioned that most counties budgeted for a car loan facility and not a grant.
THE STANDARD By
James Munyeki |
February 14th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Former Nyandarua County Assembly Speaker Ndegwa Wahome (
pictured) who was known more for his legal background than politics, represented a key constituency of professionals in the agriculture-rich county.
He rose to fame in 2012 when he represented Samuel Wanjiru, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon gold medalist and 2011 Chicago Marathon champion, in a death threat case.
He offered his legal services to Wanjiru’s widow Triza Njeri during the inquest in the athlete’s death.
On Wednesday, 26 out of 39 Nyandarua MCAs voted to remove him from office. Only four opposed the bid.
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THE STANDARD By
James Munyeki |
February 11th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Nyandarua County Assembly Speaker Ndegwa Wahome. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
Nyandarua County Assembly Speaker Ndegwa Wahome was Tuesday impeached for a second time over allegations of gross misconduct.
Twenty-six ward representatives voted to remove him from office. Four MCAs voted against the impeachment motion.
In December, last year, Wahome survived the first impeachment motion supported by 39 MCAs after he rushed to court to challenge their decision, claiming they had failed to follow due process.
MCAs suspended
Tuesday’s decision seemed well orchestrated, with the blessings of the ruling Jubilee Party that had earlier suspended seven members over alleged indiscipline.
THE STANDARD
KENYA
Salaries and Remuneration Commission chairperson Lynn Mengich with vice-chairman Dalmas Otieno briefing on house allowance for members of parliament and senate on May 15, 2019. [David Gichuru]
The Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC) is reluctant to make any commitment in the raging debate over the Sh4.5 billion car grants for MCAs.
On Friday last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta yielded to pressure from MCAs from the Mt Kenya region and promised them a Sh2 million car grant each after they made it a condition for passing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill.
Uhuru’s car grant offer was seconded by ODM leader Raila Odinga, who while meeting MCAs from Nyanza region, said the representatives had a right to enjoy the privilege.
THE STANDARD By
Nathan Ochunge |
December 21st 2020 at 11:54:21 GMT +0300
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka is appealing to governors to foster good working relationships with ward reps in order to stem the current wave of impeachments in the country.
Lusaka wants the county bosses to embrace dialogue with the MCAs and stop chest-thumping if at all they want to continue to stay in office.
The Speaker was reacting to the impeachment of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko by the Nairobi County Assembly, which the senate stamped authority to his removal last week.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was also impeached last year and his deputy Dr James Nyoro took over as governor.