Discontent over House committees make up

By PATRICK BEJA

Mombasa, Kenya: Mombasa County Assembly adjourned for Easter break amid allegations of denying women members  key committee positions.

There is hue and cry in and outside the assembly since none of the 15 female members of the assembly heads a single committee.

Haki Africa, a civil society organisation, has written a protest letter to leader of Majority Khamis Mwabashiri saying committee elections did not meet requirements of the Constitution and the House standing orders.

In the letter dated April 17, gender rights co-ordinator Salma Hemed said out of the 24 House committees, 16 do not meet the  threshold of the one third gender rule yet there are members sitting in more than one committee.

The letter was copied to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, County Assembly speaker Thadius Rajwayi, leader of minority Karisa Nzai, chief whip Mohamed Ndanda Chiro and Gender and Equity Commission chairperson Winfred Lichuma.

UNFAIR POLLS

“Some members appear in committees meant to supervise the same committees which they are members of. For example a member cannot be in the public investment committee and public accounts committee while at the same time be in the budget committee,” Hemed said.

She called  on Mwabasheri  to declare the committee elections null and void and call for a fresh exercise.

But Karisa Nzai, ward representative of Jomvu Kuu, said the assembly strictly followed the House standing orders and dismissed those criticising the move.

“There is nothing wrong with the committees. We have done our work in line with the House rules,” Nzai said.

Shanzu member Maimuna Salim Mwawasi, who was replaced as Public Works committee chairperson, complained that the elections were held while she was away on an official trip to Rwanda with deputy governor Hazel Katana last week.

Mwawasi said this was done ostensibly to deny her a seat.

Katana led eight female members of the County Assembly to attend the 20th anniversary of Rwanda’s genocide.

Meanwhile, the House was adjourned on Wednesday evening until April 22 following the Easter holidays. 

The Motion to adjourn the House was moved by nominated member Sarah Nyamvula.

EXPECTED MOTIONS

Once the House is back in session, members are expected to debate a Motion to push the Mombasa County government to introduce Kazi kwa Vijana initiative to provide employment  to the youth.

Mikindani  MCA  Duncan Onyango gave a notice of Motion saying the initiative would give relief to jobless youth who engage in various vices including drug abuse.

“Kazi kwa vijana proved useful to our youth when it was spearheaded by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga,” Onyango told the House.

At the same time, nominated member Hudson Karume also gave a notice of Motion for the House  urging the establishment of a scholarship programme for disabled persons in Mombasa County.

The House adopted a calendar providing for its working time and recess this year.

The calendar tabled by Mwabasheri shows that MCAs will go on recess from May 1, resume on June 3 work till August 28 then break till September 22. They will then work till December 4 then break until the next year.