There is unrest in the County Assembly of Bungoma following what the Minority coalition terms as a mischief from the Majority side following the refusal to share key positions with the minority side as pronounced by the standing orders. The bone of contention is the constitution of two committees namely: Implementation Committee & Public Accounts and Investment Committee
- Implementation Committee;
- Chairperson – Hon. Jacob Psero (Independent)
- Vice Chairperson – Hon. Mourine Wafula (Ford Kenya)
The County Assembly of Bungoma Standing Order 212 (1) There shall be select Committee to be known as Committee of Implementation (2) The Chairperson of Implementation Committee shall be a member of the Party or Coalition of Parties other than County Assembly Party or parties forming the County Government and shall have the majority of one (3) The Implementation Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and not more than ten other members
- Public Accounts Committee;
- Chairperson – Hon. George Tendet (Independent)
- Vice Chairperson – Hon. Bernard Kikechi (Ford Kenya)
The Leader of Minority and MCA for Bukembe West Hon. Anthony Lusenaka has therefore written to the Speaker calling for a review of the said committee leadership
Additionally, “Independent members are just independent. They are not members of a political party or Coalition of parties… that should come out clearly. What of FK members who were elected vice chairs? Are they not in the ruling party?” concluded Lusenaka
In a rejoinder;
Lwandanyi MCA who doubles as the Public Administration and ICT chair Hon. Tony Barasa indicates that indeed the standing orders indeed do direct that the Chairperson must be anyone who is not in the ruling coalition. Independent candidates are not part of the Majority side and do therefore qualify to hold this positions. The problem with the Minority side is Kiburi and too much assumptions. They never lobbied for these positions, Independents MCAs did.
