Nakuru County Assembly MCAs on Tuesday, October 15 shot down a motion tabled before the house that allowed them a break to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's function in Naivasha.
According to the Daily nation, the ward reps, led by Majority Leader Moses Ndung'u, stated that they had crucial businesses to cater to and would not abandon their duties to attend the presidential unveiling of the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway on October 16.
The motion was moved by Melvin Kipkoech Kutol, the chief whip who was seconded by his deputy Wahome Jambo Kenya to orchestrate a unanimous vote against it.
Rhonda Ward MCA Timothy Kabutu Kabiru that the president’s visit to Naivasha had no qualms but would be of less value to the assembly. He urged fellow representatives not to disrupt the house's sessions in favour of Uhuru's function.
Soin MCA Irene Chebichi Cheruiyot opposed the motion, arguing that the assembly had a tight schedule. She attributed their intent to boycott the function to plenary sessions, committee meetings, therefore, an attempt to reschedule the house sittings would overburden them.
Chebichi, however, made a suggestion to have MCAs from Naivasha sub-county, led by Speaker Joel Maina Kairu, represent the assembly in the presidential function.
In a past meeting, the speaker, majority leader and Naivasha East MCA Stanley Karanja had agreed to have the morning and afternoon house proceedings held simultaneously, with a 30 minutes interval, in order to deliberate on pending business before allowing members to attend the unveiling of the second phase of the SGR.
The plan, however, took a different turn when they voted to skip the function in favour of the assembly's business.
Majority Leader Ndung’u was in agreement with Karanja insisting house businesses would not be disrupted.
