CBK called for Intervention as Operations Stall at Nairobi City County Assembly

By Erick Ludeya

Cash strapped Nairobi City County Assembly is now seeking the intervention of the Central Bank of Kenya(CBK) to unlock the financial stalemate that has seen its operations ground to a halt.

The financial crisis at the assembly revolves around the legitimacy of the accounting officers who are supposed to be the signatories for the assembly’s CBK account.

In the letter to the CBK, speaker Benson Mutura has detailed a series of events leading to  the changes in the accounts office and explains why the CBK has to allow the assembly to nominate new signatories to its accounts.

The letter captures events dating back to June last year when the court of appeal restrained the then clerk Edward Gichana from serving in the same capacity.

Mutura blames the Directorate of Banking Services for misunderstanding the changes effected in the accounts department.

“ We feel unfairly treated by the Directorate of Banking Services and have therefore sought your urgent intervention in the matter,” the letter reads in part.

Internet services at the assembly have stalled while virtual sittings of the assembly and committee sittings have also been affected.

The speaker has also lamented stalled services from suppliers on account of pending bills and non-payment of dues.

The MCAs and staff of the assembly have gone without their January salaries since the same cannot be processed. Office rent for the 85 wards remains unpaid and the MCAs risk eviction as well.

On Tuesday,the MCAs lamented lack of tissue paper in the toilets and were forced to move an adjournment motion through Utalii ward MCA Johsnon Ochola to discuss the matter.

The whole crisis stems from the clerk’s office at the assembly which has  always been home to controversial appointments. The series of events captured by Mutura in his letter to the CBK best explains the financial crisis being faced at the assembly.

After the courts stopped Gichana from serving ,the County Assembly Service Board appointed one Ms Adah Onyango as the Acting Clerk.

The board would then write to Gichana to hand over the Internet Banking (IB) token to the new accounting officer( clerk) but he kept off.

For seven months, the Acting Clerk Adah Onyango had no control of the Assembly Accounts.

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