New changes in Nyandarua Assembly to beat Corona
David Macharia
Nyandarua County Speaker Ndegwa Wahome yesterday announced a raft of changes in the Assembly’s sitting to enable MCAs and staff beat curfew hours and observe Covid-19 regulations.
In a communication, the Speaker said plenary sittings shall commence at 9:30am and end no later than 4:30pm to allow MCAs and staff to travel and arrive to their homes before the 7pm curfew.
To ensure social distancing of at least one metre, Wahome said Chamber sittings have been limited to the Speaker, 13 MCAs and one clerk at the table at any one time. The assembly has 40 MCAs, 25 elected and 15 nominated.
“Members may coordinate and swap with each other to allow room for debate so long as the Chamber capacity does not surpass the said number at any given time,” the Speaker said.
The speaker said Standing Order 232 (1) on reservation of seats in Chamber shall apply to the Assembly leadership and differently-abled members.
“Appreciating the peculiarity of the times, it is directed that Members may take other available seats as marked in consideration of the one meter rule social distancing rule and shall remain at the designated seat at all times while in Chambers,” Wahome said.
The Speaker’s Gallery and the Public Gallery shall not be occupied by any person except the technical staff facilitating the sitting during plenary sitting days.
There shall be no consultations at the Speaker’s Chair or at the Clerk’s Table and accordingly, it shall be out of order for a Member to approach the Speaker’s Chair or the Clerk’s Table for any purpose.
He said in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s advisory, Members and staff aged 58 years and above; with chronic illnesses; expectant and lactating mothers are encouraged to abide by the Presidential directive dated March 25 and thus work from home as they are more at risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus.
