Chaos ensue after “Matters of County Importance” motion earn Deputy Minority Leader a suspension

In Summary;

• Motion of Importance
• Complaint letters; Union/Employees
• Press statements;
  • Pro-Motion MCAs
  • Anti-Motion MCAs

The Thursday, 10 June 2021 Assembly afternoon session started with the new Deputy Minority leader and MCA to Mbakalo Ward Hon. Bethwel Mwambu attempting to table a MOTION on MATTERS OF COUNTY IMPORTANCE. This move was meant to put everything on hold in favor of the 2nd supplementary budget which had been struck off the order paper on Wednesday, 9 June 2021 by the House Business Committee (HBC) where the legislator is a member.

Trouble began when the Speaker Hon. Emmanuel Situma ruled the Deputy Speaker out of order by attempting to table a motion that had not been granted by the HBC and therefore ordered him to sit but the MCA instead insisted on addressing the house prompting the Speaker to invoke standing orders and therefore suspending the MCA for 16 sittings. This did not go down well with the pro-Wangamati MCAs who rose in defense of their colleague, demanding that he stays put. Attempts by the sergeant at arms to forcefully eject the MCA were unsuccessful as the legislator was surrounded by his faction-colleagues who broke into songs and dances with the popular BADO MAPAMBANO song taking Centre stage.

All this happened so fast and the pro-speaker MCAs joined the shouting and singing contest that prompted the Speaker to adjourn the house indefinitely

While addressing the press;

Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Bethwel Mwambu MCA Mbakalo said that;

• On Wednesday, 9 June 2021 He had informed the Speaker by a way of notice that he intended to move motion on matters of County importance… The 2^nd Supplementary budget
• Today Thursday, 10 June 2021 the speaker declared my motion fictitious.
• He stood to defend my matter but was ordered to sit leading to my suspension for 16 sittings apparently for disobeying the Speaker’s communication.
• The speaker was citing wrong standing orders since he did not exchange with him
• Salaries had been removed in the 1^st supplementary budget and therefore governor Wangamati wanted to use the 2^nd supplementary budget to cure the deficit
• We have not been paid due to our inability to legislate on the 2^nd supplementary budget and therefore the executive to pay salaries
• The 2^nd supplementary budget was brought on Wednesday, 19 May 2021
• As a member of the HBC, my cardinal responsibility is Mbakalo ward

• He then shared the following complaint letters that support his move;

1. Kenya worker’s union

2. Employee 1

3. Employee 2

4. Employee 3

Rejoinder;

Hon. Juma Nyongesa MCA Tuuti/Marakaru and Majority Leader;

• We saw no need for the 2^nd supplementary since the 1^st supplementary which was passed in March 2021 has not been implemented to date.
• The recent Exchequer release of 711millions was supposed to pay salaries, pending bills but instead the governor opted to buy MCAs to disrupt Assembly business as well as pay his associate companies that did contracts in the Municipalities
• Wangamati’s Impeachment is still alive
• Thanked speaker for sticking with the law
• The 185million included in the 2^nd supplementary budget purportedly for salaries was

Hon. Barasa Mukhongo MCA Chwele Kabuchai, Chair Finance Committee said;

• They are not a praise and worship choir to follow governor, those who do so are the ones who are contractors and are given 500,000 weekly allowance.
• MCAs are defenders of our electorate’s concerns
• This is no time for supplementary budget, it’s time for the main budget which should have been brought to the assembly by 30^th April 2021… We have not received it
• 2^nd supplementary conversation is dead
• He warned the CECM Finance not to give in to Wangamati’s plans to steal 1.3 million for the purposes of using the funds for 2022 elections
• Chief officers have vacated offices following their financial improprieties