Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) across the country have threatened to shut down House business in all 47 counties by Monday next week if their continued push for better remuneration and autonomy is not addressed.
During a County Assemblies Forum at KICC, Nairobi, on February 19, 2025, the legislatures insisted on the need to have financial autonomy as county assembly, lamenting they have become “beggars.”
“Come Monday next week, We will close down all assemblies if our grievances are not heard,” Makueni MCA Kalunda wa Kalunda said.
Led by majority leaders from different county assemblies, they have lamented being undermined as far as remuneration is concerned, citing examples where clerks and speakers continue to get better packages.
They have accused Governors and Senators of putting their interests first and leaving MCAs to languish in poverty, ignoring key amendments they have been pushing for such as the county pension bill.
“Listing CDF under the constitution but ward fund falls as statutory is demeaning to say the least,” Naivasha East MCA Stanely Karanja lamented.
Karanja added, “CAF will play a key role in dictating national politics and leadership, there is no way 47 leaders can dictate what we will eat and drink and yet we put them there.”
The County legislatures have also taken issue with the retirement package for MCAs which they say is nonexistent and as a result some members become beggars after retirement while their counterparts from the National Assembly take home hefty retirement packages.
They have threatened to match to State House in order to get the President’s audience since most of the things they were promised has never materialized.
Meanwhile, County Assembly Speakers Forum chairperson Josiah Thiriku reiterated that the forum will continue advocating for MCAs’ welfare and representation.
At the same time, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna called for accountability by leaders from the County to National level.
He challenged elected leaders to actualize what they promise the electorate and not just rhetoric talks to defend their failures.
