Matanga, school fees making me broke- Kenya's youngest MCA

News of Leyla Muhandale’s election into Kakamega County Assembly spread like wildfire.

She had just graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Statistics and was on the verge of making history as the youngest elected MCA in Kenya.

Never mind that Muhandale was just 23 and was still living with her parents. She vied as an independent candidate and beat 17 male contestants to become Lumakanda Ward boss in the August 2017 general elections. “They would say Leyla is a child and not married which was true.

“But they had more than one wife and didn’t deliver to the electorate.

“The more they talked against me, the more voters got acquainted with me,” she told The Nairobian.

One year down the line, the youthful MCA who is under a lot of pressure says people of Lumakanda Ward in Kakamega County expect too much from her.

“The ward has high poverty levels and whenever there are funerals in the area, the entire ward looks at the MCA to foot the bills.

“When a child is sent out of school, they will look for the MCA to pay it,” she told The Nairobian in an exclusive interview.

“In a week I fetch between four to six bodies from the mortuary using my own pick-up truck.

“The cost of fuel and purchasing a coffin means I cough out about Sh36, 000 on funerals. I also spend at least Sh20, 000 in harambees every month,” she said.

Besides, MCAs salaries were reduced by half compared to what her colleagues earned in the previous county assembly.

“At least, MPs have CDF kitty,” she said. “Though our work is oversight, legislation and representation, the mentality of the electorate is that the MCA must cater for funeral expenses and contribute in harambees.”

According to Muhandale, many MCAs have become poor since elections and some of them cannot even fuel their vehicles to work.

“The pressure is just too much on us and sometimes we are forced to use our savings to work for the electorate,” said an MCA who sought anonymity

To supplement her salary, Muhandale has turned to music as a side hustle but also to raise money to support her people.

“Music is part of my life and I have just finished working on my secular music video album which I will be launching soon.

“Once the album is out, it will help me get some money to use in funding projects within the ward,” said the MCA who says she supports three orphans.

“I spend Sh165, 000 from my salary to pay school fees for three students at Sh55, 000 each,” she said.

“I am committed to looking for money through music and marshalling sponsorship to serve my people better,” Muhandale saiud.

She is still single and is not dating; she says first she wants to serve the people of Lumakanda.

So far, the MCA has embarked on table-banking for self-help groups for women and youths.

“We are doing a 10Km murram road in my ward and by the end of five years, we would have done 50Km.

“Already there is tarmac in Lumakanda town and its environs. Governor Oparanya is being fair to all regions in terms of development,” Muhandale said.

The MCA, who believes that the handshake weakened the Opposition wants the National Super Alliance (NASA) to sponsor Opposition MCAs at the assembly and take them for capacity building on how to conduct house business.

“ANC forms the opposition at the Kakamega County Assembly and it is weak.

“Even in Parliament and the Senate, they have to be given the opportunity to learn how to handle matters of national interest,” she said.

Would you like to get published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us breaking news, story ideas, human interest articles or interesting videos on: standardonline@standardmedia.co.ke