- The names were highlighted in a letter addressed to Speaker Ken Ng’ondi by ODM executive director, Oduor Ong’wen dated October 11.
- Kenya Kwanza Coalition has been asked to communicate its leadership for the assembly to start its business.
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has named its house leadership at the Nairobi county assembly.
Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok has been appointed as the majority leader. He will be deputised by Laini Saba MCA John Musila
Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto will serve as the Majority whip and be deputised by Upper Savannah MCA Elijah Stazo.
Nominated MCA Catherine Okoth has been appointed to represent Azimio at the Nairobi County Assembly Service Board.
Okoth has retained her position.
The names were highlighted in a letter addressed to speaker Ken Ng’ondi by ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen dated October 11.
Ong’wen said the coalition will soon name chairpersons of the committees since Azimio is the majority party.
At the assembly, Kenya Kwanza which comprises UDA and Kenya Kwanza is the minority 53 MCA while Azimio has 67.
Three of the MCAs are independents and the Embakasi ward is yet to elect their representative.
“In the interest of balancing the interests of coalition parties, gender, regional and ethnic communities, the Azimio La Umoja Coalition will give further directions in due course, regarding the leadership of sectoral and standing committees,” reads the letter.
Imwatok takes over from Former Embakasi MCA Michael Ogada while Musila replaces Mellab Atema who died early this year.
Oeto replaces Imwatok who served as Minority whip in the last assembly.
Last month, Ng’ondi revoked a communication on the Azimio House leadership, saying the chairperson was not properly in office and hence incapable of receiving any communication nor providing the authority for the clerk to act on it.
Ng’ondi said the communication did not constitute business for the day under the Gazette so published, hence it stands rescinded in totality.
However, the same names are the ones presented by Ong’wen.
After receiving the communication, Ng’ondi through an internal memo to the MCAs affirmed that the Azimio Coalition has maintained its stand on its leadership nominees.
Ng’ondi also called on the Kenya Kwanza Coalition to communicate its leadership for the assembly to start its business.
Nairobi county assembly has around 23 committees inclusive of the House Business Committee, which is chaired by the speaker.
This means Azimio will chair all committees except for the Public Accounts Committee and Public Investment Committee, which will be left to Kenya Kwanza.
PAC oversights the expenditure of public funds by Nairobi county entities, to ensure value for money and adherence to government financial regulations and procedures.
The committee derives its mandate from Standing Order 197 (2) of the Nairobi City County Assembly.
It provides that, “the Public Accounts Committee shall be responsible for the examination of the accounts showing the appropriations of the sum voted by the County Assembly to meet the public expenditure and of such other accounts laid before the County Assembly as the Committee may think fit.”
The select committee on County Public Investments was established on October 5, 2017, according to the provisions of Standing Order 198 (1).
Its functions include examining the reports and accounts of the county and examining the reports, if any, of the Auditor General on the County's Public Investments
Normally, PAC and PIC are given to the opposition side of the house which is expected to keep the executive in check.
If Kenya Kwanza will be allocated these two committees, the deputy chairpersons might be forced to come from the Azimio side as they enjoy a plus one in all the committees.
A large part of the assembly’s role in the law-making process happens in committees and much of its oversight over the executive is also done through committees, particularly the portfolio (sectoral) committees.
Under the powers given to its Standing Orders, the assembly establishes a range of committees with assigned powers and functions.
The committees are required to report regularly on their activities and to make recommendations to the House for debate and decision.
There is a sectoral committee for each corresponding county executive department headed by executive members.
The composition of committees reflects the numerical strength of parties represented in the assembly.
That committee will deliberate on bills covering that department’s area of jurisdiction, and scrutinise and report on its annual budget and strategic plan.
As the people's representatives, members of the committee determine whether county executive departments are delivering on what they promised and whether they are spending the public money responsibly.
As part of their oversight work, committees may do site visits where they find out directly from the people at ground level whether the government is delivering on its promises.
If a committee reports on a matter and makes certain recommendations, that report will be debated in a full sitting or plenary to allow other members of the house to engage with the content of the report.
Once the report has been debated, the assembly decides whether to adopt the committee’s recommendations or reject them.
Currently, all the 123 MCAs, 84 elected and 39 nominated are undergoing induction before they officially start their plenary sessions.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris