FOSTERING UNITY IN GOVERNANCE: HISTORIC JOINT CONFERENCE BETWEEN COUNTY ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE CHARTS PATH FOR ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERY
The County Assembly and County Executive of Bungoma have convened a significant strategic retreat to evaluate their performance over the past two years and forge stronger collaborative frameworks. The joint conference brings together Members of the County Assembly, the County Executive Committee, and a section of the staff to assess achievements, address challenges, and develop comprehensive strategies for enhanced inter-governmental relations.
The leadership from both arms of government is deliberating on crucial matters including passed legislations and their implementation, project oversight, and service delivery optimization to ensure seamless governance for the people of Bungoma County. They discussed and ironed out the existing gaps and challenges faced during their collaborative work towards forging co-relations on matters before Committees and the role of the County Executive.
Bungoma County Assembly and Executive members at Victoria Comfort Inn – Kisumu
In his opening remarks, speaker of the County Assembly Hon Emmanuel Situma stated that the County Assembly of Bungoma does not exist in isolation, indicating that external partnerships have played a key role in fostering growth and improvement in the County Assembly.
Hon Situma revealed the existing challenge of communication breakdown between the County Assembly and the County Executive, which he said should be worked on to eliminate delays in providing timely and accurate information whenever the County Assembly requests information on matters before Committees.
Over a month ago, the County Assembly had submitted the Public Participation Bill and the Civic Education and Access to Information Bill to the County Executive. However, the bills were not yet assented to, nor has the Assembly received any feedback on them. Therefore the County Assembly leadership has urged the County Executive to prioritize these pending bills and provide a timely response.
The Speaker further called for teamwork and cooperation from Hon members and County Executive officials to enhance legislation, oversight, and representation. As he urged Hon Members to be well acquainted and informed about the County Assembly legislations whenever they appear before radio stations for interviews so that they give informed position of the issue under discussion.
Clerk of the County Assembly of Bungoma Mr. Charles Wafula stated that the conference was aimed at providing a platform to County Executive Committee Members to present on how their departments are working towards implementing legislations passed by the County Assembly.
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He further highlighted that the County Assembly acts as a backbone of accountability since they ensure the maximizing of County revenue collection mechanisms and optimum use of resource by the County Executive.
Mr. Wafula called upon them to foster a united path, together with a shared vision and aligned goals so that they can accomplish more than what they have done so far. As he quoted the words of Hellen Keller “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Leader of minority Hon Anthony Lusenaka appreciated the secretariat comprising of members of staff for the good work they are doing attesting to the improved quality of reports being developed by the County Assembly. Hon. Lusenaka noted that all visiting delegations during the just concluded County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games commended the County Assembly for its exemplary performance, which was facilitated by effective administration and leadership. He urged the County Executive to receive the Assembly’s feedback constructively and implement measures to enhance service delivery.
Bungoma Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) following speeches at Victoria Comfort Inn – Kisumu
Leader of Majority Hon Joseph Nyongesa called upon the Members of the County Assembly and County Executive to ensure proper implementation and subsequent oversight is done so that citizen’s interests are catered for.
Deputy Clerk Legislative Services Dr. Leonard Momos presented on the legislative progress as he analyzed bills, regulations and policies passed by the County Assembly. In his presentation, Dr. Momos called upon Hon members to use statements for oversight yet he noted that some Departments only had few statements such as Sectors on Trade and Industrialization and Roads, Infrastructure and Public Works.
Laws that had been passed by the County Assembly from inception of devolution up to date face challenges in implementation due to lack of regulations. Hon Situma stated that the County Assembly’s efforts to get regulations from the County Executive were not fruitful due to vacancy of the County Attorney and urged the Executive to expedite the same and bring forth regulations for better implementation of passed laws.
A resolution was made for the County Assembly to fast track the passage of the 3 pending policies to ensure compliance with the law before the 5th of December, 2024, such policies were Bungoma County Youth policy, 2024, Bungoma County Sports Policy, 2024 and Bungoma County Water Policy, 2024.
