MCAs MAKE OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS IN ORDER TO PASS BBI

Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from the Western Region are demanding Ksh 500,000 each in order to pass the Building Bridges Initiative Bill (BBI).

The MCAs have further demanded that the Ksh2 million car grant awarded by the president be released by Monday next week.

The MCAs from Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia counties warned that if their demands are not met, they will shoot down BBI when it gets to the region.

Vihiga MCA Tom Adingo said that the ward representatives are flat broke, and must be compensated to polarize the document in the region.

“We don’t have money to conduct public participation, and you cannot just go to the people empty handed,” said Adingo.

The MCAs maintained that the Ksh300,000 promised by President Kenyatta for facilitation was not enough, and asked the Governors to top up the amount to Ksh500,000, at least.

The 270 MCAs also highlighted the amendment of the Election Act Section 22, and asked that the Bill to be suspended all together.

Election Act Section 22 prescribes minimum academic qualifications for MPs and MCAs to have a minimum bachelor’s degree before they are cleared to contest.

In 2017, Members of the National Assembly the Election Act Section 22 was amended, but the implementation date postponed severally. The Act is set to take effect in the 2022 General Elections.

In the previous years, legislators have vowed to move to court to challenge the law saying it has the potential of subverting the will of the people.

The MCAs spoke at an event attended by Western leaders led by; Amani National Congress (ANC) party Musalia Mudavadi, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, governors Wilbur Ottichilo (Vihiga), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula.

The Western leaders urged the MCAs to speak in one voice and ensure the bill will be passed in the region.