Setting the Record Straight: Why Nakuru MCAs’ Attacks on Senator Tabitha Karanja Are Misplaced
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A section of Nakuru County MCAs, led by Majority Leader Mutai, has launched an attack on Senator Tabitha Karanja following her call for the impeachment of Governor Susan Kihika over her prolonged absence from the county.
The Senator raised concerns about a leadership vacuum, questioning why there had been no official communication on who had received the instruments of power to run the county in the Governor’s absence.
Rather than addressing the substance of these concerns, the MCAs chose to direct their energy toward discrediting the Senator, accusing her of overstepping her mandate.
Majority Leader William Mutai, while acknowledging that both the Senate and County Assembly have oversight roles, took issue with Senator Karanja’s public statements.
He went as far as claiming that she was “speaking from the bush” and should adhere to the County Assembly’s Standing Orders, which he claimed required her to appear before the Assembly once a year.
However, this argument is both misleading and legally unfounded.
The Constitution of Kenya clearly defines the roles of both the Senate and County Assemblies. Under Article 96, Senators represent counties at the national level, protect their interests, and exercise oversight over county governments.
This means that when a Senator raises concerns about governance issues within a county, they are fulfilling their constitutional duty.
The County Assembly, on the other hand, has an oversight role at the county level, ensuring that the executive, including the Governor and County Executive Committee Members (CECs), is accountable.
Additionally, MCAs legislate on matters affecting the county and represent the interests of their constituents.
Despite these distinct roles, Majority Leader Mutai and his allies have attempted to blur the lines by insisting that Senator Karanja should appear before the County Assembly.
However, no law compels a Senator to appear before a County Assembly. While some assemblies may have Standing Orders inviting Senators for consultation, such invitations are not legally binding.
Furthermore, Article 125 of the Constitution, which gives County Assemblies powers similar to those of the High Court when summoning witnesses, does not extend to Senators. A Senator is answerable to the Senate, not the County Assembly.
What makes this situation even more perplexing is the glaring hypocrisy among the same MCAs leading the attacks on Senator Karanja.
Last year, these very leaders staged the impeachment of then-Majority Leader Alex Lang’at, accusing him of being too close to the executive and preventing the Assembly from performing its oversight role.
They championed the slogan “Freedom Nakuru Freedom,” promising to restore accountability in county governance.
Yet today, the new Majority Leader Mutai, alongside the same MCAs who decried executive interference, is defending the Governor’s absence and attacking the Senator for demanding accountability.
Their actions beg the question: was their previous fight really about oversight, or was it just a power struggle?
It is also worth noting that while the MCAs claim to be fulfilling their oversight role, there has been little to show for it.
They have repeatedly stated that they have been summoning CECs and the County Secretary, yet there has been no publicly available report on these sessions.
If they are truly committed to transparency, why has the public not been informed of any outcomes? Nakuru residents, who elected them and finance county operations through their taxes, deserve answers.
Among the MCAs attacking Senator Karanja is nominated MCA Hassan Duale, who criticized her for “not focusing on her work.” However, Duale’s comments suggest a misunderstanding of the Senator’s role.
A Senator’s primary duty is to oversight counties at the national level, ensuring that devolution works as intended.
By raising concerns over the Governor’s unexplained absence, Senator Karanja was fulfilling this mandate.
Duale’s remarks also raise concerns about political loyalty, as nominated MCAs typically answer to the political parties that appointed them rather than the general public.
The bigger issue here is why MCAs, who should be the first line of accountability at the county level, are now shielding the Governor instead of seeking answers on behalf of Nakuru residents.
If indeed they have been conducting oversight, why has there been no clarity on who is running the county in Governor Kihika’s absence? Why is there no formal communication from the executive on the matter? Instead of addressing these crucial governance questions, they have chosen to deflect by attacking the Senator.
Senator Tabitha Karanja’s statements were not interference but a necessary intervention in response to a governance crisis.
Nakuru residents have the right to know who is leading them and whether county operations are running effectively.
The MCAs, who are the people’s representatives at the county level, should be leading this charge, not working to silence those raising legitimate concerns.
The Nakuru County Assembly must decide whether it stands for the people or for political expediency.
Instead of engaging in unnecessary confrontations, the MCAs should focus on their constitutional duties: oversighting the county executive, passing meaningful legislation, and representing the interests of Nakuru residents.
The attacks on the Senator only serve as a distraction from the real issues affecting the county, and the people of Nakuru deserve better.
With a knack for captivating storytelling, Amos Lumbasi has a talent for crafting narratives that resonate with readers. He combines meticulous research with a captivating writing style to create articles that are both informative and enjoyable to read.
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