MCAs approve Musambayi as county clerk

BY ERIC LUNGAI

The Vihiga County assembly has retained Josphat Musambayi as its clerk despite passing a vote of no confidence against him.

Mr Musambayi emerged tops among four other competitors shortlisted for the position and was yesterday confirmed as the substantive county clerk. 

Until his confirmation, he was the interim clerk to the assembly, having been seconded to it by the Transition Authority. “Currently, the county assembly is in recess until February, but based on the fact that the position is integral to the house’s performance, I approved a special sitting upon the request by the Leader of Majority to have one,” Speaker Daniel Chitwa said.

In a turn of events, the county reps expressed their confidence in the clerk, saying he could not be dropped because he was familiar with their problems at the assembly and had shown good judgement in the past.

In an earlier statement to the Press, the United Democratic Front (UDF) members, who are a majority in the assembly and led by the Leader of Majority Andrew Ahuga and Chief Whip Abdalla Chogo, had called for the sacking of the clerk.

Mr Chogo however, told The Standard that the assembly’s double standards and turn of events were acceptable in any political forum.

He said they had changed their position and were now ready to work with the clerk for the better of the county.

Meanwhile, the MCAs have expressed concern over a member of the County Public Service Board acting as the secretary, noting that the assembly has not approved him.