Attend assembly sessions, Speaker tells locals

Murang'a County Assembly Speaker Mr Nduati Kariuki calls on the residents on the need to embrace public participation to help channel their input in the formulation of county laws and policies. PHOTO BY BONIFACE GIKANDI

Assembly Speaker Nduati Kariuki has blamed the public for failing to attend assembly proceedings.

Mr Kariuki said failure by residents to attend important sessions to guide the formulation of laws and policies through public participation was against the spirit of the Constitution.

Based on this, the Speaker said he plans to hold an open day at the assembly to educate the public on how they can participate in the house business.

The public, he said, should be educated on the procedures of the assembly and hence create a sustainable relationship and know how to lodge petitions instead of holding demonstrations as a way of expressing themselves.

"In case of problems with some of the laws passed by the assembly, the public should not hold demonstrations but petition the assembly by raising their concerns," he said.

Cultural values

Kariuki said the assembly has passed a law to help with the promotion of culture and ensure its preservation.

The Speaker noted that there should be an academy to help train the youth on the importance of preserving and embracing the community's traditional values and dances.

He called on the Murang'a University college to honour veteran musician Joseph Kamaru with a doctorate degree for the role he has played in preservation of the Gikuyu culture for decades.

"Mr Kamaru has emerged as one of the musicians from the Kikuyu region who has lived educating the community through music," said Kariuki.