MCA wants nominated colleagues barred from voting

Kiambu, Kenya: A member of the Kiambu County Assembly is set to appear before the the Senate Committee on Devolution to present a petition seeking to bar nominated MCAs from voting on ward matters.

Karungo Thang’wa (Ngewa) will appear before the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen-led committee this morning.

“I was called by the committee’s clerk to appear before the committee tomorrow at 10am to explain to them what my petition is all about,” Mr Thangwa said yesterday.

Thang’wa wants the Senate to amend Section 19 of the Constitution and exclude nominated MCAs from voting on ward matters.

The former broadcaster said the move will ensure equitable representation.

“If there are two nominated MCAs in Ngewa, for instance, we will have to consult to have one ward vote,” he said, adding while elected MCAs are loyal to the electorate, their nominated counterparts owe their allegience to  the parties that sponsored  them.

He wants them barred from voting on all matters to do with the budget, Finance Bills, Ward Development Fund and electing or impeaching  the Speaker or governor.

Impeach governor

“Why, for instance, should a nominated MCA be allowed to take part in impeaching a governor who was elected by the people?” he wondered.

Thang’wa said he had reached out to a number of MCAs from Nairobi, Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a and Vihiga who he said have supported his proposal.

However, the petition has put the MCA on a collision a course with his nominated counterparts in Kiambu. A week ago, he recorded a statement at the Kiambu Police Station claiming the MCAs had harassed him.

He claimed that a section of female nominated MCAs accosted him while he was leaving the chambers and hurled insults at him.