Governor Barchok, MCAs mend fences after political stand off

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok. [File, Standard]

A day after Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok suspended three County Executive Cabinet (CEC) members, he has reached a truce with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to end political stand-off.

In a closed-door meeting at the county assembly on Monday evening, Prof Barchok sought to iron out differences with MCAs to forestall an impeachment plot.

A section of MCAs in attendance confided in The Standard that the governor called the meeting through the Assembly Majority Whip Richard Ruto to mend fences.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Barchok sought to restore the good working relationship with MCAs and end to the tug of war, which has lasted for more than a month and resulted in impeachment motions against three CECs.

The impeachment hearing, which was suspended last week by the courts, irked MCAs who accused the governor of resorting to legal action to interfere with their oversight role.

Aware of a plot to impeach him and his entire cabinet, after the assembly retreat over the weekend in Bungoma, the governor reached out to the MCAs after two failed attempts.

"Governor Barchok requested to meet us in Kisumu, but we humbly turned down his request, and we chose to give him a chance at the assembly when he used the Majority Whip," the MCA said.

Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir said they deliberated on recent happenings, saying the governor sought to explain his stand to the MCAs.

Without divulging more details, the Speaker revealed that the MCAs also used the meeting to discuss development in the county.

Another MCA said they held their ground on demands to have the CECs who were facing impeachment sent home.

"Our irreducible minimum to the governor despite striking a reconciliatory tone was that the three CECs should be removed," the MCA who sought anonymity said.

"We were aware that Prof Barchok had suspended them to throw the process in disarray but we are not backing down since we know once the petition in court is dispensed they may find their way back to work and we have told him that he should send them away at the earliest opportunity," he added.

Rongena Manaret Ward Rep Roseline Cheptoo said they are aware the governor is serving his last term and he has allegedly adopted a don't care attitude in rolling out development.

Cheptoo vowed that they will not allow Barchok to ruin their political career.

"We are clear as MCAs, Barchok is serving his last term, and we demand him and his administration to be accountable, and we will not accept his mistake to cost us our political careers," she said.

Majority Whip Richard Ruto (Chemaner Ward) confirmed that he convened the meeting.

Ruto said the meeting was to make the governor aware that terms of engagement have changed and as MCAs, they demand accountability.

MCAs wanted Administration and Public Service CEC Joseph Kirui, his Roads and Transport counterpart Erick Kipkoech Ngetich, and Finance and Economic Planning CEC Andrew Sigei removed from office over allegations of gross violation of the Constitution, misconduct, incompetence, and abuse of office.

However, a statement by Governor Barchok last month that his administration spent more than Sh90 million on development in every ward irked the MCAs.

But MCAs said no projects have been implemented in the wards.

They also demanded an explanation on the purchase of road construction equipment worth Sh373 million, saying despite allocating funds reports indicate that the county had resorted to hire purchase.

This unsettled the executive and in an attempt to fight back resorted to have the public demand projects from MCAs, leading to a stand-off.