Senate calls on MCAs to stand firm against political, financial pressure
Vice Chairperson Danson Mungatana called on the Assemblies to take greater initiative in their work instead of leaning heavily on the National Government.
The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation has urged County Assemblies to assert their constitutional mandate in examining regulations without yielding to political interference or financial challenges.
The call was made during the Committee’s visit to Tharaka Nithi and Embu Counties, where Senators held joint sessions with County Assembly committees.
More To Read
- MCAs lose petition challenging scrapping of sitting, retreat allowances
- Governor Mutai impeachment case: Electronic voting system was credible, verifiable, and free from irregularities - ICT expert
- Kericho Governor Erick Mutai accused of extorting officials through fundraising demands
- Executive undermining Parliament’s independence, says Kivutha Kibwana
- Drama as former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba barred from Senate despite court reinstatement
- MPs call on IEBC to curb soaring election costs by regulating legal fees
In Tharaka Nithi, Committee Chairperson Mwenda Gataya challenged Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to remain firm and thorough in their legislative role.
“You should be smart and thorough. Make sure members are updated to make the right decisions regarding any regulations, despite political machinations which are everywhere,” he said.
He assured the Assembly that the Senate would continue providing support, particularly in capacity building, to enable them to discharge their mandate effectively.
Vice-Chairperson Danson Mungatana called on the Assemblies to take greater initiative in their work instead of leaning heavily on the National Government.
“The best thing is for you to create some budgetary allocation within yourselves to move swiftly, especially when it comes to financial requirements. Make good use of the Act that was passed by the Senate and assented to recently by the President. From there, you can prioritise projects in accordance with your needs,” he advised.
Mungatana cautioned against overreliance on external support, saying it would derail Assembly plans.
“Depending on external support, especially from the National Government, will greatly derail your plans as an Assembly,” he warned.
Tharaka Nithi MCAs welcomed the Senate Committee’s visit, saying they would apply the lessons drawn from the discussions.
However, they raised concern that the new law had not solved the long-standing issue of financial dependence since Assemblies still relied on County Treasuries for disbursement, leaving them vulnerable to interference by the Executive.
In response, Senator Mungatana dismissed those fears, saying the law was adequate to ensure financial autonomy if properly applied.
“The law is okay. Even the Senate gets money from the National Treasury. You should use the law to compel the County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Finance to ensure money is disbursed on time,” he said, urging MCAs to enforce their authority.
The Committee later held a similar engagement with the Embu County Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation. Mungatana urged the Assembly to maintain proper records to preserve institutional memory.
“Keep records well and prepare a solid exit report to enable the new team to carry on with the good work. Continue working closely with the Senate to benefit more and seek capacity building to strengthen delivery,” he advised.
Senator Gataya also lauded Embu County Assembly for setting a good example for others. “Embu County Assembly has done well,” he noted, encouraging other Assemblies to emulate its commitment to legislative oversight.
Embu MCAs pledged continued dedication to their work and called for more Senate support in capacity building. Mungatana used the session to urge the National Government to release county funds without delay.
“The National Government must support devolution by disbursing money meant for counties on time,” he said.
The Tana River Senator also reminded Governors against encroaching on Assembly powers by introducing punitive regulations.
“Senators shall continue calling for accountability from Governors, as it is the Senate’s constitutional mandate. Governors must not usurp the powers of County Assemblies to create regulations that punish citizens,” he said.
Mungatana emphasised that legislative authority rests with County Assemblies.
“Legislation is for the County Assemblies, and therefore, Governors should not use donated power to create bad regulations. I appeal to County Assemblies to stamp their authority and annul those regulations that negatively affect citizens,” he said.
Both Senators Gataya and Mungatana reassured the Assemblies that the Senate remained committed to building its capacity and defending devolution by safeguarding its independence.
Top Stories Today
