Members of Kisii County Assembly have rebuffed at calls by the Speaker and Clerk to adjourn sitting despite the Covid-19 scare in the house.
One MCA is reported to have died from the conditions suspected to be of Coronavirus, while three others are admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi. Five others have recovered from the infection and had resumed duties.
A Communication on the assembly's official Facebook site had requested Members to proceed home for three weeks as they monitor the situation.
The message seen by the Standard indicated that a number of staff and MCAs had been affected by the Corona Virus pandemic hence the need to close down the Assembly for a couple of days.
However, in a Kamukunji held within the Assembly parking bay yesterday, the MCAs disagreed on the way forward saying their welfare had not been addressed.
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The meeting was attended by both the Speaker David Kombo, the Clerk James Nyaoga and several MCAs. Nonetheless, after the meeting, both the Clerk and the Speaker walked away without addressing the media.
A source within the assembly indicated that both Kombo and Nyaoga were of the opinion that MCAs proceeded home for two weeks.
Nominated MCA Carren Magara who spoke to the Standard after the meeting said the closure of the assembly was unprocedural.
“We will resume sittings on Tuesday after the burial of our colleague. There are procedures to follow adjourning and closing the assembly. Covid-19 is here to stay, we need to find better alternatives in the fight against the pandemic,” she said.
A notice signed by the Assembly Human Resource Director Francisca Bhoke on November 9, 2020, called for the closure of all other departments except for those working in crucial offices.
“Besides the closure of the Assembly all other staff and MCAs are urged to strictly adhere to the safety and health measures announced by the Ministry of Health,” read the notice in part
The notice further stated that the affected staff will be working from home for a period of 21 days. “The Corona Virus possess grave danger to our members and staff working environment and the communities they serve,” it read.
Wednesday afternoon, the Nyanza South LSK branch Chairman Wilkins Ochoki told the Standard that residents will not be getting services at the Kisii Law Courts on Thursday and Friday as they plan to fumigate the premises.
A number of staff including a judicial officer working from the Courts had tested positive in the last two weeks. The senior officer had since been transferred to a Nairobi Hospital for further medical attention.
