Kitui County Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Alex Nganga, has issued a strong warning to Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) across the country following troubling incidents in the Machakos and Homa Bay county assemblies. In a bold and candid address, the seasoned third-term MCA expressed concern over the growing trend of Speakers overstepping their mandate, undermining MCAs, and turning legislative houses into personal empires. His message served as both a cautionary tale and a rallying call for MCAs to assert their authority.
Nganga reminded his colleagues that MCAs are not mere employees of the Speaker, but rather the ones who hire and can lawfully fire them. He noted that many MCAs invest heavily—financially, emotionally, and physically—during elections, only to be bullied by individuals they entrusted with the Speaker’s role. “You can’t toil, campaign, use your own resources and then be threatened by the very person you employed,” he lamented, adding that this kind of disrespect was not only unjust but dangerous for the integrity of devolution.
According to Nganga, the power struggles currently playing out in Machakos and Homa Bay are just the beginning. He predicted similar turbulence in other counties once the budget approval season ends, pointing out that most MCAs are currently silent to avoid disruptions in crucial financial deliberations. “Many of you are holding back because of the County Budgets, but once that’s over, more Assemblies will erupt,” he warned, urging MCAs to remain vigilant and firm in defending their constitutional roles.
He was particularly critical of Speakers who have shown open political ambition, accusing some of using their current positions to loot public resources while sidelining MCAs. “Some of these Speakers have declared interests in running for higher office and think they can use the Assembly to enrich themselves,” he said. “We cannot allow a Speaker to treat the Assembly like a personal kiosk. Hauwezi kuajiri mtu halafu afanye bunge kuwa kibanda yake.”
This comes as sittings at the county assemblies of Machakos and Homa Bay were disrupted after chaos erupted over a leadership row on Tuesday, 10th June. In Machakos, nine MCAs were suspended indefinitely for engaging in a fist fight during the heated session. Meanwhile, in Homa Bay, sittings were adjourned after chaos broke out when eleven members were barred from accessing the assembly, an action that many have termed as an attempted political coup. These unfolding tensions affirm Nganga’s warning that rogue leadership within Assemblies is becoming a threat to democracy and service delivery.
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