Ruto now wades into Samboja MCAs standoff, invites ODM MCAs

Deputy President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretary Monicah Juma (Forei gn Affairs)during The COMESA International Trade Fair and High Level Business Summit at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi. KICC on June 17, 2019. [David Gichuru/Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has invited some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) for a meeting following a dispute with Governor Granton Samboja.

The invite comes less than a week after Opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka met Mr Samboja, who has started the process of dissolving the county over a stand-off with MCAs.

Despite being elected on an Opposition ticket, Samboja has always been close to Jubilee. It is, however, not unclear if he is allied to Ruto.

The meeting comes as spirited efforts are still ongoing to reconcile the two warring factions over the 2019/20 budget estimates that Samboja declined to assent to.

Samboja’s meeting with Raila and Kalonzo caused disquiet among MCAs.

In dispute is the Sh833 million the MCAs slashed from the Executive budget and allocated to the Ward Development Fund.

Yesterday, the Assembly leadership confirmed a meeting had been planned by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, an ally of the DP, tomorrow.

Those aware of the ongoing said Murkomen called Assembly Speaker Meshack Maganga inviting all the MCAs for a consultative meeting in Nairobi on Friday.

Sources told The Standard at least five MCAs allied to the governor would not attend the meeting.

ODM party Chief Whip Abraham Juma confirmed that Murkomen had invited them for a meeting.

The Kasigau Ward Rep noted that MCAs felt that the Opposition leaders had abandoned them by only meeting the governor.

“The NASA principals have taken sides on the budget standoff by only meeting the Executive. They (Raila and Kalonzo) should have also met us to get our view so as to make an informed decision on the matter,” said the MCA yesterday.

Meanwhile, MCAs yesterday rejected Samboja’s nominee for the position of chairperson for the County Public Service Board and approved five members.

Unanimously approved

They unanimously approved a report of the joint committee on the vetting of six board members disapproving Mwaluma Wallace Williamson as chairperson.

Those approved for appointment by the governor are Sabina Maghanga, Alfred Mlolwa, Samuel Mutie, Davis Mshighati and Christopher Pongah.