Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo has told of the Eugin Wamalwa led devolution ministry on its move to control the expenditure of Members of County Assembly.
The legislator argues that the legitimacy of the directive that MCAs get clearance from the Ministry of Devolution before a foreign trip is questionable. However, the rationale is understandable.
He says legitimacy is questionable because county assembly members are part of a separate government, which is not the national government.
The MP notes that Assembly members can therefore not be controlled by the national government. However, the Constitution contemplates consultation.
“But to subject the MCAs to a Cabinet Secretary is to subjugate them and make their governments subordinate to the national government. That is why the directive is of doubtful legitimacy,” he said.
“But it is true there has been a lot of inappropriate expenditure in counties, just as with the national government. It is also true that for a while MCAs (and even us MPS) have taken unnecessary trips abroad. Sometimes they are inordinately expensive,”added Amollo.
Otiende further cites that there have been times some leaders claimed to have travelled when they hadn’t.
“They have at times created diplomatic headaches for the embassies abroad when they travel without prior notification. Therefore, the idea to control MCAs trips abroad is understandable.”
“What should happen, however, is that the control should not be exercised by a Cabinet Secretary. It should be by an independent office.”
The move by the devolution ministry had angered the Council of Governors, who claimed that the national government was infringing on the independence of the county governments.
The MCAs will be required to disclose air ticket cost, accommodation, daily expenditures, visa fees, registration fees, and other extra expenses.
“In the case of MCAs, requests for travel approval must be attached by minutes of the respective Assembly Committee authenticated by the Speaker of the respective Assembly,” read the circular by Devolution Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli.
At the end of an official visit, the delegation shall asked to provide a report as well as a recommendation for implementation to be shared across government and counties for others to learn from.
The communication made to County Assembly Clerks and County Secretaries warned that foreign workshops that required participation or registration fees would not be approved.