The Kiambu County Assembly has tightened its grip on oversight of the county executive branch by amending its Standing Orders. This move requires County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) to appear before the full Assembly when summoned to answer questions from elected officials.
Previously, interaction between the Assembly and the Executive branch was less formalized. This amendment, introduced by Leader of Minority Party Hon. Joe Kigara, streamlines the process for Assembly Members to hold CECMs accountable for their departments’ performance.
Under the new rules, a member can submit written, signed notifications to the Clerk requesting information from a specific CECM. The Speaker will then assess the question’s relevance and appropriateness for Assembly discussion. If approved, the Assembly Business Committee will schedule a dedicated time for the relevant CEC to appear before the Assembly and answer the questions directly.
This amendment is expected to enhance the Assembly’s ability to effectively scrutinize the Executive’s performance. MCAs expressed satisfaction with the changes, believing they will enable them to better represent their wards and ensure the county prioritizes development initiatives at the local level.
The amendments also establish time limitations for these sessions, with a maximum of three hours allocated during Wednesday morning sittings and one hour allotted during Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon sittings.
