Business at the Nakuru County assembly started on a sad note on Tuesday after the first motion of the third session was shot down by an overwhelming majority.
The motion by majority leader Samuel Waithuki to have the sssembly pass a list of members to constitute the house business committee faced a lot of objection from the floor with most members pointing out various shortcomings in the list.
The list tabled in the assembly had 23 members, whom if passed, would have been in charge of the day-to-day running of the house including constituting various committees.
Flamingo Ward MCA Moses Gichangi said that the list lacked gender balance and that youthful MCAs had not been included. He said that the move is a gross violation of provisions stipulated in the constitution.
“It is now clear that there is a plot to sneak the list in the assembly at the last minute. It is also clear that there is a mission to silence critics of the speaker by denying them slots in the committee,” said Gitau Kamau, Visoi Ward MCA.
Nominated MCA Catherine Njeri and her Dundori counterpart Steve Kihara and Macharia Gichiri the Rhonda Ward MCA pointed out that the list did not have representation from Bahati and Nakuru Town East constituencies despite them having a great representation in the assembly.
However, majority of MCAs said to be close to the speaker, led by Esther Mengere – nominated and Mwangi Waithaka- Kabazi Ward, said that those opposed to the list were just engaging in politics at the expense of the assembly business.
After adjournment of yesterday’s session, several MCAs were overheard swearing to ensure today’s debate remains heated.
There has been a standoff between nominated and elected MCAs with most of the nominated MCAs being accused of inclining towards the speaker.
The shooting down of the motion is a big blow to speaker Susan Kihika who enjoyed overwhelming support from majority of MCAs in 2014, most of whom seem to be criticising her leadership style now.
As per standing orders, the speaker, the majority and minority leaders are members of the house business community with the speaker as the chair.
Assembly business resumes today.