Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on Monday, March 17, boycotted an address by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya during the 5th Legislative Summit organised by the County Assemblies Forum.
Mvurya, who was sent to represent President William Ruto, was addressing the summit when the MCAs began chanting, demanding Ruto’s presence at the event.
They repeatedly shouted, “No Ruto, No Summit,” forcing the organisers to pause the meeting as they tried to find a way forward.
The main goal of the summit was to discuss how county assemblies can improve their work and strengthen devolution.
The other objectives of the summit included improving the relationship between county and national governments, finding ways to increase county funding, and making laws that will help counties function more effectively.
Many MCAs had hoped that the President would attend to address their concerns directly. Ruto’s absence made them feel undermined and ignored by the national government.
The MCAs' biggest complaints included insufficient funding for counties, delays in receiving funds, and excessive control from the national government.
According to a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the MCAs stood their ground, insisting that Ruto’s presence was crucial, and efforts to calm them down were unsuccessful.
The MCAs emphasised that counties play a crucial role in devolution and should not be ignored.
This comes months after MCAs raised concerns that the national government is not providing enough support to county assemblies. They stated that counties need more financial independence and better working conditions.
The County Assembly Forum(CAF) organized the summit to help county leaders work together and build a stronger connection with the national government.
Ruto on Monday, March 17, attended several events including the African Development Bank event at the state house.
