County assemblies adjourn in pay protest

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By Standard Team

County Assemblies in several regions adjourned indefinitely as ward representatives demanded pay rise.

County Assemblies in Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Baringo and Kisii adjourned until their terms are improved.

In Kisumu County the motion to adjourn was moved by the leader of the majority, Samuel Ong’ou who claimed that the county representatives’ welfare must be looked into for them to transact business in their respective wards.

Ong’ou said the leaders were frustrated as their security, accommodation and movements were also not looked into due.

Some of the ward representatives quit lucrative jobs to join the County Assembly but the Salaries and Remuneration Commission reduced the pay pack from Sh350,000 to Sh79,000.

They now want the figure returned to Sh350,000 as was when they went to campaign for the seats before the March polls.

“We left big and lucrative businesses to serve the people but we can’t do it effectively with such an amount,” East Seme Ward Representative Aggrey Ogosi said.

Ogosi who spoke on behalf of the members said the Sh350 000 was there before SRC revised it without consultations.

“SRC claim the wage bill is too high but a country will not move if the salaries are low,” said Ogosi.

In Kakamega, County assembly representatives in Kakamega have downed tools over salaries.

The sixty members of the assembly adjourned their sittings indefinitely demanding that they be allocated better salaries and allowances before they can resume their duties.

Crucial functions of the county have now been paralyzed starting with deliberations on the county budget to the vetting of nominees to the   yet to be constituted County cabinet.

In Kisii County, County Assembly operations have been grounded after Members of County Assembly (MCA) indefinitely suspended house proceedings to protest at terms of service.

 The 45 elected MCA unanimously backed a motion by Samson Nyagaka to adjourn house business until their grievances touching on their salaries and allowances were duly addressed.

 Tabling their grievances before Assembly Speaker Kerosi Ondieki, the members they had worked without being remunerated saying there was a huge discrepancy in their March and April dues with the officially gazetted salary.