False start to the formation of Nakuru, Naivasha municipality boards

The process to appoint nominees to two municipality boards and their approval by the county assembly has attracted controversy.

It has emerged that the executives and members of the county assembly (MCAs) violated the Urban and Cities Act and the Nakuru Municipal Charter when they picked and approved 18 members who will sit on the Nakuru and Naivasha municipality boards.

On Wednesday, MCAs adopted a report of the joint committees on Appointments, and Lands, Housing and Physical Planning despite concerns raised about the number of nominees and their eligibility.

The Urban and Cities Act states that a municipal board will consist of nine members, who must include an executive and chief officer responsible for urban development.

Majority Leader Moses Ndung’u said Governor Lee Kinyanjui should have presented 14 names to the assembly instead of 18, adding that the positions of an executive and chief officer responsible for urban development were not filled.

Ndung'u also noted that two of the appointees were holders of diploma qualifications instead of degrees, adding that the discrepancy was the result of a disconnect between the Act and the charter.

While the Act insisted on a degree qualification, the newly enacted charter said an office holder must hold at least a diploma.