UDA MCAs walk out on Lenku during assembly address as wrangles escalate

The row between Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) allied to UDA continues to escalate.

Agitated MCAs on Tuesday, February 14, walked out of the assembly chambers during the governor's address in protest of what they termed as unfair distribution of bursaries and unfulfilled pledges by the Executive.

The MCAs walked out as the county boss took to the podium to address the House and proceeded to address journalists outside the chambers.

They claimed that ward representatives allied to the ruling party had not been included in bursary committees.

The MCAs faulted the Lenku administration over failure to fulfil a pledge to tame the bloating county wage bill.

"The governor seems to be interested in working with MCAs allied to Azimio. His discrimination is evident in the manner he issued the county bursary as those who supported him were allocated huge amounts in the Ksh150 million supposed to be equally distributed among the 25 wards.

"While he said each ward will get Ksh1.5 million, those wards with ODM representatives were issued more money. We cannot allow him to politicize education as children suffer. In his previous address, he also promised to deal with ghost workers but instead, illegal employment is ongoing," John Loisa, the majority leader lamented.

Lenku's speech largely focused on urgent mitigations that need to be put in place to address the hunger situation in the county occasioned by prolonged drought.

In his response to the rebel MCAs, Lenku termed the MCAs' actions as betrayal and sideshows.

"I am not interested in political drama. The MCAs who have walked away in protest have no interest in the people of Kajiado, they are still suffering from political party hallucinations while other leaders are focused on development," the governor said.

"The Kenya Kwanza Mcas should rethink their ill-informed decision of politicking because their leader President William Ruto is serving as an example. He is willing to work with all leaders despite political affiliations. For the sake of respecting and supporting the president, they should style up.

"They should also be warned that Lenku is not going to be intimidated or blackmailed any time soon. My heart is bleeding because my people are hungry and I have no iota left to engage in unnecessary baseless war."

The governor affirmed that bursary allocation has been done in accordance with legislation passed by the assembly and the same modality was used to disburse the money to needy learners.

He further said the MCAs' myriad allegations against the Executive were 'pure' politics pegged on selfish interests.

Lenku maintained that he will be firm and focus on the development and welfare of hungry Kajiado residents.

The move came barely a day after the same MCAs gave a county training retreat a wide berth.

Modulated pastoralism, livable towns and climate change were the key agendas of the training only attended by Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya allied MCAs.

UDA boasts of majority of elected and nominated MCAs. They also hold the speaker, deputy speaker and majority whip positions.

At the moment, three CEC positions remain vacant after the assembly members rejected Lenku's nominees.

Recent attempts by MCAs to vet afresh ministers who served in Lenku's first term in office hit a snag.

How Lenku manoeuvres to deliver his legacy amid a rife opposition by the legislative arm of his government remains a matter of wait and see.