Two Kisumu county assembly members have six days to showcase why their seats should not be declared vacant.
The two are Habil Onyango MCA representing Masongo Nyangoma ward and his nominated counterpart representing Persons with Disability Kenedy Otieno Ajwang.
In separate letters seen by the Star dated May 24th 2023, the county assembly speaker Elisha Oraro has written to the two MCAs notifying them on the matter.
According to Oraro, the two ward representatives have been absent for more than eight consecutive sittings of the assembly without permission in writing to the speaker and an explanation on the same.
"The purpose of this letter is therefore to give you an opportunity to show cause why your seat should not be declared vacant as per Article of the constitution."
The letter further read "Your offer of satisfactory explanation for the absence should reach the speaker on or before 1st June 2023".
The letter has been copied to the ODM party leader, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o, the Chief Whip of Kisumu county assembly, the Chairman of ODM and the county assembly clerk.
The county assembly holds its sittings three times a week, on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning and afternoon and on Thursdays in the afternoon.
According to the constitution, the office of a member of a county assembly becomes vacant if a member dies, if the member absconds eight sittings of the assembly without permission, in writing, of the speaker of the assembly and is unable to offer a satisfactory explanation for the absence.
Others are if the member is removed from office under the constitution or legislation enacted under Article 80 or even if a member resigns in writing addressed to the speaker of the assembly.
