Mombasa, KENYA: The Annual County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Legislative Summit kicked off in Mombasa on Tuesday with MCA’s using the platform to champion for their pay for the term that they will not be in office.
This is the second summit to take place since county governments came to function.
The forum aims at creating a platform for positive engagement between the legislative arms of the devolved system of government and the Senate.
This year’s forum has brought together Senators, Members of County Assemblies from the forty seven counties, constitutional commissions, the judiciary and independent offices as well other stakeholders.
Members of county assembly have used the Legislative summit, to push for pay, for the term that they will not be in office following the August polls.
The MCAs used the platform to pile pressure for them to be paid, a move that could cost Kenyans billions of shillings, to compensate them for the eight months that their term in office will be cut short.
The Ward reps challenged the Judiciary to explain to them Article 177(4) in Constitution, and give directions.
Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of the four day forum that’s ends on Thursday, the county legislators maintained that their five-year term as stipulated in the Constitution Article 177(4), ends on March 4, 2018, hence having elections in August would slash their term, and thus they are entitled to a pay.
Speaking during the opening, county assemblies chairman Johnson Osoi, challenged the judiciary to interpret to them the clause.
“The Constitution is very clear when it comes to the term of MCAs, and the term of any other elected leaders in Article 177(4),” said Johnson Osoi.
Mr. Johnson argued that if MPs and Senators are being paid, MCAs also must be paid.
Representing President Uhuru Kenyatta in opening the Summit, Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, had a difficult time addressing the issue.
However, he managed to convince the MCAs that he will form a committee that will negotiate on the pay.
The theme of the summit this year is ‘Effective legislative for sustainable grassroots development’.
