MCAs Threaten to Boycott Sittings Next Week in Fight for Salary Increase

Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) have conveyed their intention to boycott their respective county assemblies to advocate for better remuneration. 

The Association of Members of County Assemblies (AMCA) disregarded a directive by the Kenya Kwanza leaders which announced an end to the planned closure of county assemblies. The MCAs stated they would keep up the campaign until their demands, including a ward fund, security, pension and salary increase, were completely fulfilled. Earlier in the week, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala instructed all Kenya Kwanza affiliated county assemblies to avoid involvement in decisions made by outside parties. 

In a letter addressing Majority leaders in the assemblies, Malala asked them to acknowledge the order and report any MCA who oversteps it. However, AMCA Secretary General Stanley Karanja disregarded the warnings, saying their push is in harmony with improving conditions for MCAs and not affiliated with any political party. The UDA MCA from Naivasha East blamed the government for their situation and threatened that all county assemblies would be shut down in a week's time.

“The County Assembly Forum that is composed of Speakers is misleading the government despite earning a lot and doing little at the assemblies,” he said. 

Eburru-Mbaruk MCA Michael Gathanwa sounded that the salary cut was meant to hinder devolution, while Lakeview MCA Alex Mbugua questioned why retired leaders were given pensions but MCAs were not.

At a meeting in Naivasha, Viwandani MCA Mwangi Muraya faulted Malalah for not considering the party's stance in their calls for better remuneration. He added that the government had yet to consider any of their requests, resulting in the ongoing stalemate.

“We thought that our demands for a ward fund would be among the discussions by the bipartisan committee from the government and the opposition but this has been ignored,” Muraya said.