We are broke and neglected, say county leaders

By JOB WERU

Nyeri County Assembly members will join their colleagues countrywide in an indefinite recess aimed at compelling the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to increase their pay.

Speaking at a media breakfast meeting in Nyeri, County Assembly Speaker Maina Mugo lamented that members were ‘suffering’ since they were required to represent a wider area than their predecessors.

He also noted that the county assembly had not received any monies from the national Government and has been operating on debts.

“We want members of the public to bear with us since we have not even received any salary since we were elected two months ago. It is unfortunate that we have a member who represents Mugunda area in Kieni, which neighbours Nyahururu and he is supposed to attend assembly sittings three days a week. How is he expected to travel while he does not have housing or travelling allowances,” posed Mugo.

Mugo said county leaders had channelled their grievances to SRC, Transition Authority and other institutions but nothing was forthcoming.

He said the members were ‘demoralised, humiliated and felt neglected’.

“We are in solidarity with other county assembly members in the entire country and we will from today proceed on an indefinite recess to compel the SRC to rethink our salaries,” said Mugo.

He said the ‘meagre’ pay of Sh79,000 was a recipe for corruption, noting that they were supposed to enhance utilisation of billions of shillings to be channelled to county governments.

“How do you expect a person earning that amount to account for billions of public funds,” he queried.

The Speaker was accompanied by his Sergeant-At-Arms Dennis Omangi and Leader of Majority Antony Kibuu, among other leaders.

“We do not have money for basic operations at the assembly and we want to tell the Government that we cannot operate like this anymore,” he said, adding that the funds should be sent directly to the assemblies.

“We do not want a case where the funds are sent through county governments of the Ministry of Devolution. We are an independent body just like the Judiciary and others,” said Mugo.