Murkomen, Orengo differences play out during summit's open session

Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen and his Minority counterpart James Orengo at the summit. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen and his Minority counterpart James Orengo differed over effectiveness of the annual Senate Legislative Summit.

While Mr Orengo termed the forums mere talk-shop, Mr Murkomen said a lot had been achieved in enhancing the county assemblies' capacities since 2016.

"I must say here that these forums are just mere talk shop and this is why most of the recommendations made in the past have not been implemented," said Orengo, the Siaya Senator.

But his statement riled Kipchumba (Elgeyo Marakwet), who took the floor to critique.

"We have achieved a lot through the summits; like securing the independence of the county assemblies to handle their own vote," said Murkomen.

He recalled that in the last parliament they came up with the ceilings for the Executive and county assemblies spending.

He said the Senate had received a number of petitions from governors seeking to reduce the assemblies' recurrent budget, but they (Senate) had declined.

“We are helping to create structures and these structures are no doubt helping to revolutionise the running of counties," said Murkomen.

He commended the forum, saying it had helped empower ward representatives, who in the past worked at the whims of governors.

County Assemblies Forum chair and Kajiado Speaker Johnson Osoi said they had intervened in cases where MCAs were threatened if they did not support the executive's agenda. 

[Kepher Otieno, Roselyne Obala and Harold Odhiambo]