Reduce foreign trips, Members of County Assemblies advised

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro (right) and Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations Chief Executive Officer Stephen Mutoro during a workshop at a Nairobi hotel. [Photo: Beverlyne Musili/Standard]

Nairobi, Kenya: Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro has asked Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to stop making unnecessary overseas trips.

However, MCAs protested they were being unfairly targeted and demanded to know why MPs, who they claimed were equally globe-trotting, were not being criticised.

Speaking during the launch of a three-day workshop organised by the Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (Kara) in Nairobi Wednesday, Ethuro told the MCAs their presence in their counties is necessary to launch and co-ordinate development projects.

“Your counties cannot develop without your presence. There is no need for your frequent visits out of the country,” he said.

Frequency worrying

Responding to the MCAs on why parliamentarians were not being treated the same way, Ethuro said they were rightfully making offshore trips.

“It is logical for MPs and other leaders at the national level to visit other countries. MCAs too should benchmark with other counties,” said Ethuro.

He said it was okay for MCAs to tour other countries once in a while, but observed that the current frequency is worrying.

Ethuro explained to the MCAs that their primary roles include ensuring the Government remains answerable to the people. He said the unutilised monies allocated to the counties in the last financial year will remain in the counties.

The Speaker said most of the money was not used because there has not been enough time to use all the allocated resources, adding that the Senate will appeal to the Controller of Budget to allocate funds quarterly and not monthly.

This follows recent pleas from Governors asking the Senate to help restore financial discipline in county assemblies to ensure most of the resources are directed towards development projects.

On Tuesday, Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto asked the Senate to pass a new legislation by August to tame extravagance spending by MCAs.

He admitted governors cannot question how MCAs are spending for fear of being impeached if they raise questions.