Rowdy MCAs disrupt sitting for second day over delay of Sh400 million bursaries

Nairobi County Assembly MCAs addressing a press conference outside the Assembly Chambers.

Nairobi MCAs for the second day running disrupted plenary sittings over a delay in issuance of Sh400 million bursaries.

A section of rowdy ward reps yesterday forced the adjournment of the plenary sitting after they attempted to grab the mace but were quickly stopped by the sergeants-at arms.

Chanting “no bursaries no, sittings”, the MCAs staged a sit in on the floor of the house and vowed not to move until they received their bursaries.

“No business will proceed until the bursary funds are released by the executive. We are not begging, it is our right,” said Umoja I MCA Mark Mugambi.

The happenings forced deputy speaker John Kamangu who was presiding over the sitting to adjourn the plenary session even as the members walked out.

They later held a kamukunji to deliberate on the issue.

A mace is a heavy club, especially that which lies on the table in the County Assemblies and in parliament when the Speaker is in the chair, regarded as a symbol of the authority of the House.

Without it, house business cannot take place.

Nairobi County MCAs protest on delay of release of bursaries

The protests by the MCAs began last week following revelations by the education department that bursaries could not be released due the failure by city hall account for Sh90 million issued in the last financial year.

Beneficiaries from all the 85 wards are yet to receive Sh400 million bursary funds announced by Governor Sonko in April.

Each ward was expected to get Sh3.5 million, which would then be transferred to schools’ bank accounts. MCAs were then to be issued with vouchers to give beneficiaries in their wards.  This however is yet to happen.

On Thursday last week, Finance Chief Officer Halkano Waqo and Education Executive Lucia Mulwa were roughed up by members of the education committee due to the delay in release of the bursary funds.

Come Monday this week, MCAs who were breathing fire vowed not to conduct house business until they received the funds.

Speaker Chege Mwaura on his part had ruled that should the executive not give a reasonable way forward in a day’s time, the assembly will stall all government business until the issue is addressed.

“If we will not have a comprehensive report from the budget committee by tomorrow (Wednesday) then we will resort to stalling house business. But for now let us wait until the way forward is given to us by the budget committee which will be handling the issue before resorting to any action,” said Chege.