Mombasa County MCAs have defied the instructions of Governor Hassan Joho, who wants his executives allowed to work without being monitored by assembly committees. This has brought about tension between the executive and the county assembly that threatens to disrupt government.
As a result, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has summoned 15 Mombasa MCAs to Nairobi to quell the tension.
The MCAs say the incompetence of some executives has landed the county lawmakers in trouble with their voters and must be held accountable.
On Friday, the ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna wrote to the Mombasa assembly Speaker Arub Khatri inviting him alongside other members to a meeting with the party’s national leadership.
Sources said tomorrow’s meeting is meant to dissuade ODM reps in the assembly from participating in the planned impeachment of some of Joho’s ministers.
“You are hereby invited to attend a consultative meeting to discuss matters relating to the party interests in Mombasa county assembly. The meeting will be presided over by the national party officials,” the letter says.
Those invited to the meeting are Athman Mwamiri, Hemed Salama, Raphael Bwire, Abrari Dzimba, Charles Kitula, Athman Shebe, Fahad Kassim, Leila Nyache, Milka Moraa, Naliaka Wafula, Hamida Noor Sheikh Ali, Fatuma Swaleh, Mwaka Zahora and Rosemary Mukavi.
Governor Joho is expected to appear today before the Devolution and Inter-Governmental committee of the Senate regarding threats targeted at the county assembly.
Last week, senators warned against threats and intimidation of Mombasa MCAs by members of the executive and administrators.
This was after Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki raised the county’s problem in the Senate and called for protection of the county assembly.
The Senate is the guardian of counties and devolution.
“I urge the Senate to come to the defense of the county assembly of Mombasa to avoid a situation where the assembly would be paralysed, giving the executive a free hand to operate,” he said.
The Senators will also meet with Speaker Khatri as it tries to unlock the stalemate and find a lasting solution to the power fights that have rocked the coast assembly.