Kisumu, Kenya: Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) from Nyanza have dismissed calls by the Transition Authority (TA) to scrap the positions of their personal assistants.

Majority leaders Beauttah Omanga (Nyamira), Samuel Ong’ow (Kisumu) and Migori County Speaker Gordon Ogolla said the leaders lashed out at the body saying it is out to undermine devolution.

This came barely three days after the transition team said MCAs had illegally hired 13,000 assistants who were drawing Sh875 million per month from the public coffers.

According to the TA, each MCA has six assistants hired through the County Assembly Service Board.

Bad taste

But speaking to The Standard, Mr Omanga said each MCA in Nyamira County has three personal assistants, each paid Sh15, 000 contrary to the figures given by the TA.

“It is in bad taste for the TA to blame us before getting correct facts on the ground. Each of us has a personal assistant, secretary and a messenger who also serves as office cleaner,” he said.

TA had indicated that each MCA has a ward manager, personal assistant, personal secretary, driver, guard and messenger.

Omanga accused TA chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi of trying to make himself relevant by being hard on MCAs.

“He is being threatened by the National Assembly and that is why he has turned on us,” he claimed.

Mr Ong’ow on the other hand said MCAs play similar roles as MPs and must get similar treatment.

“MCAs are not like the former councillors, we play both legislative and oversight roles,” he stated.

He said MCAs deserve respect just like other elected leaders and would not yield to threats from State bodies.

Condemn move

At the same time, the MCAs dared TA to make real its threat that MCAs and County Assembly chiefs who authorised the hiring of subordinates be made to pay the money spent on salaries for the assistants.

Speaking in Migori town yesterday, Mr Ogola led other 20 MCAs from the area to condemn TA’s move. Ogola said the ward offices and staff in the region were done procedurally. 

“The Sh60, 000 disbursement we send to the wards every month are legal. Let Wamwangi know that MCAs need offices to meet the electorate,” he said.

He accused the TA of failing to account for some funds given to it by the national government to be used during the period of transition to the devolved systems.

They threatened to mobilise all MCAs in the country to remove the TA chairman from office.

Mr Wamwangi had in a circular sent to the county assemblies said the salaries paid to the assistants were not sustainable and must be stopped.

“Closing our offices will not only alienate us from our people, but also make it impossible to represent them well,” said Meresa Akelo of Bukira Central ward.

Abedi Maroa of Masaba ward said the TA was an ad hoc committee that should now cease operations.

MCAs condemn circular scrapping posts of assistants

DENNIS ONYANGO and NICK OLUOCH

Kisumu, Kenya: Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) from Nyanza have dismissed calls by the Transition Authority (TA) to scrap the positions of their personal assistants.

Majority leaders Beauttah Omanga (Nyamira), Samuel Ong’ow (Kisumu) and Migori County Speaker Gordon Ogolla said the leaders lashed out at the body saying it is out to undermine devolution.

This came barely three days after the transition team said MCAs had illegally hired 13,000 assistants who were drawing Sh875 million per month from the public coffers.

According to the TA, each MCA has six assistants hired through the County Assembly Service Board.

Bad taste

But speaking to The Standard, Mr Omanga said each MCA in Nyamira County has three personal assistants, each paid Sh15, 000 contrary to the figures given by the TA.

“It is in bad taste for the TA to blame us before getting correct facts on the ground. Each of us has a personal assistant, secretary and a messenger who also serves as office cleaner,” he said.

TA had indicated that each MCA has a ward manager, personal assistant, personal secretary, driver, guard and messenger.

Omanga accused TA chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi of trying to make himself relevant by being hard on MCAs.

“He is being threatened by the National Assembly and that is why he has turned on us,” he claimed.

Mr Ong’ow on the other hand said MCAs play similar roles as MPs and must get similar treatment.

“MCAs are not like the former councillors, we play both legislative and oversight roles,” he stated.

He said MCAs deserve respect just like other elected leaders and would not yield to threats from State bodies.

Condemn move

At the same time, the MCAs dared TA to make real its threat that MCAs and County Assembly chiefs who authorised the hiring of subordinates be made to pay the money spent on salaries for the assistants.

Speaking in Migori town yesterday, Mr Ogola led other 20 MCAs from the area to condemn TA’s move. Ogola said the ward offices and staff in the region were done procedurally. 

“The Sh60, 000 disbursement we send to the wards every month are legal. Let Wamwangi know that MCAs need offices to meet the electorate,” he said.

He accused the TA of failing to account for some funds given to it by the national government to be used during the period of transition to the devolved systems.

They threatened to mobilise all MCAs in the country to remove the TA chairman from office.

Mr Wamwangi had in a circular sent to the county assemblies said the salaries paid to the assistants were not sustainable and must be stopped.

“Closing our offices will not only alienate us from our people, but also make it impossible to represent them well,” said Meresa Akelo of Bukira Central ward.

Abedi Maroa of Masaba ward said the TA was an ad hoc committee that should now cease operations.