County Representatives boycott cripples Kidero plans

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

City Governor Evans Kidero faces an uphill task implementing his pre-election pledges amid the current boycott of County Assembly members.

The Assembly members, who must approve the Governor’s expenditure, adjourned indefinitely demanding a pay raise from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

As county chief executive, Dr Kidero should append his signature to legislations passed by the County Assembly and will form part of the county laws. But time is running out for his county government because the Assembly has not approved his proposed budget.

Kidero acknowledges the county faces several challenges and now when it was just taking off, his promise of transforming the CBD into a world-class city is being crippled by the absence of the legislators.

Nairobi City County Assembly has failed to establish the House Committee on Appointments and the House Committee on Budget.

According to County Assembly Majority Leader Elisha Otieno, Kidero seems helpless in effecting his agenda.

“The absence of the County Reps is derailing functions of the county government, but next Tuesday the House Committee on Appointments will start vetting the Governor’s nominees,” said Otieno.

County Speaker Alex ole Magelo chairs the House committee whose membership consists of seven members both from Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and Jubilee coalition.

The House Committee on Appointment, just as their counterparts in the National Assembly, will go through the CVs of the nominees and interrogate their suitability to the offices. The Majority Leader, however, is assuring that they will not just vet and pass the names, but will scrutinise the efficiency and integrity of the nominees.

“I can assure Nairobi residents and the public that the House Committee on Appointment will not overlook any issue raised against a nominee. Our work is not to simply pass the name but to scrutinise the suitability of the nominees,” vowed Otieno.

But even before the committee begins vetting, one nominee on Health Services, Dr Timothy Kigondu, has already rejected the nomination citing low wage and poor remuneration, which so far has not been made public.

Kigondu holds a Bachelor of Medicine degree from the University of Nairobi, a Masters in International Medicine from London University and Respiratory medicine from New York University.

Although Kidero denied claims that all was well in the County Assembly and the committees were working, The Standard has established that only one committee was sitting.

“Nairobi County Reps are the most disciplined and I must commend them because even now they are working,” said Kidero yesterday.