Outgoing Machakos County Assembly speaker Benard Mung'ata (left) during the swearing in of Governor Alfred Mutua at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town on August 17, 2017.
The outgoing Machakos County Assembly speaker Benard Mung’ata says his track record speaks for itself as he defends the position for a second term.
Mung’ata said there is a need for his re-election for the position in order to complete the projects his office had established to ensure the assembly becomes the best among the 47 across the country.
“We are the ones who established the assembly from scratch in 2013 when devolution took effect, I am experienced enough to take it to higher levels,” said Mung’ata.
He addressed the press in Machakos town on Saturday.
Mung’ata said they had succeeded since the assembly was ranked among the most developed and best performing across the country.
“Having practiced law in this town for over 20 years, I understand the environment and locals’ needs. As the assembly’s speaker, I have been cautious on laws passed by the MCA’s to ensure they meet public interests as opposed to the few legislatures’ who enact them,” said Mung’ata.
Mung’ata said his office educated MCA’s on how to come up with credible motions and debate them in the assembly.
“Sand harvesting, public participation and ward development fund bills are some of the laws enacted by Machakos County Assembly during my first term,” said Mung’ata.
“There are some people who claim we were unable to come up with the ward development fund bill but that is untrue, the bill is ready for implementation once the next assembly resumes business this year,” added he.
“We have constructed offices for all the MCAs, they will seize performing their duties in hotels within Machakos town as they used to for the last four and a half years,” said Mung’ata.
He said they had also constructed a complete canteen at the Assembly's premises thereby creating job opportunities for the residents as MCAs, county assembly staff save time since they will no longer move to town hotels for meals and other services.
“Watu waangalie vile kazi nimetenda mimi, I deserve being re-elected for a second term,” said Mung’ata.
He disputed claims that he was compromised by the county’s executive during the term.
“Kazi ya speaker ni kuangalia mijadala ya assembly, kumpa kila pande nafasi ya kujadili mswada bungeni vile wanataka. Wale wachache wenye wanadai niliegemea pande moja ni upuzi tupu,” said Mung’ata.