By Edward Kosut
The adoption of an ad-hoc committee report flopped after chaos marred the voting process that led to sudden adjournment of the house sitting in Nandi.
In a highly charged session that started on Wednesday morning and ended at around 9pm, MCAs debated the report recommendations calling for disbandment of the members of the county executive and Chief Officers.
Some raised their concerns claiming that a section of ward representatives were compromised to topple the report that disclosed corruption embedded in the county executive.Hell broke loose when a section of MCAs attempted to grab the mace and the entire house turned chaotic.
The house Sergeant-at-Arms successfully evacuated Philemon Melly, the speaker from the chambers as the legislators engaged in a physical fight that led to destruction of furniture and electronic devices.
The ad-hoc committee Chair Benjamin Kerich expressed his displeasure claiming that money exchanged hands in the chambers and washrooms and some MCAs were roped in to vote against the report.
“It’s unfortunate that even those who supported the formation of a 15-member committee betrayed us and money was involved in it. The report raised accountability questions and exposed corruption among the executive staff, but we have done our best to champion for the interests of the people of Nandi,” he claimed.
The ad-hoc committee overhauled the county flagship projects, human resource and the county public service board, and came out with the report that highlighted misappropriations of millions of taxpayers’ money and abuse of public offices by the executive.
It further recommended the sacking of all CECMs and departmental Chief Officers that were adversely mentioned to have contravened the Public Finance Act and ineffective implementation of the multimillion county projects.
MCA Kerich said despite the report failing to be adopted, it remains a public document that will be used to hold the executive to account for the billions of money used in stalled projects.
But MCA for Tinderet Paul Birech said that the report issued impracticable recommendations claiming the dismissal of the entire executive body is sabotage to the county government of Nandi.
“The recommendations are political instigations that are not meant to resolve leadership challenges rather putting the county administration into an awkward position. It’s not possible to sack CECs among other senior members of the staff at once, we have to stand firm against malicious political motives,” he stated.
Speaker Melly is set to give directions over the fate of the report when the house resumes.
