Majority leader defends assembly, governor meet

By Michael Wesonga

Eldoret, Kenya: Uasin Gishu County Assembly Majority Leader Josphat Lowoi has defended a Monday night meeting between the area governor and Members of the County Assembly.

Lowoi said the meeting was convened to discuss the county’s development agenda, adding that they had been having such gatherings since the assembly was constituted last year.

He said they decided to be holding the meeting in the evening since most of them are busy during the day. “All we do is discuss development matters. A good example is last year when a meeting that began at 5pm lasted until 3am,” he stated.

The meeting comes barely three days after the assembly passed a Motion of no confidence against the county executive member in charge of Public Service Management Margaret Chepkwony Chepchumba over alleged incompetence and gross misconduct.

The Motion was tabled by Kuinet/Kapsuswa Ward representative Rebecca Magut.

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The county’s Public Service Board Chairman  Joseph Tanui and county executive committee member in charge of Finance Shadrack Sambai, who were also targeted for removal, escaped by a whisker.

However, ODM chairman in the county, Kipkorir Menjo, faulted Chepchumba’s sacking. “What yardsticks are they using to pin down the officials since it is impossible to ascertain misappropriation of funds without an audit. It does not also make sense to sack them just because of delay in completing assignments,” he told The Standard.

Corruption claims

Mr Menjo said the assembly should invite such Government agencies as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate corruption claims before taking any administrative action against county officers.

“The ad hoc changing of office holders over allegations of  incompetence only to replace them with others that are even less experienced will end up delaying the development agenda in the county,” he explained.

The local politician instead urged them to support devolution structures to stabilise the transition process.