The Kiambu County Assembly has adjourned without passing the crucial Financial Bill for the fiscal year 2024/25. This deadlock stems from a standoff between the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and Governor Wamatangi, who has refused to sign two significant pieces of legislation previously passed by the assembly: The Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill and the Land Valuation and Rating Act.
Kiambu Alcoholic Drinks Control Act; The original act was passed in 2018, amended in 2021, and revised in 2022.
The recent Kiambu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2024, passed on August 29, 2024, aims to regulate the manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic drinks in the county. It requires brewers and distillers to obtain licenses and permits from village elders and chiefs.
Kiambu Land Valuation and Rating Act; The original act was passed in 2016.
An amendment to the act in 2024 includes a provision barring the taxation of freehold and commercial agricultural land to address concerns about the non-harmonious rating system inherited from defunct local authorities.
Recently, the MCAs accused Wamatangi of executive overreach, terming it as county assembly capture by the executive through the Judiciary. They claim this undermines the overall mandate of the house and affects legislative processes.
The MCAs also accused the governor of ‘using’ nominated MCAs, who are not subject to accountability queries, to pass regressive county laws.
The MCAs cited instances where nominated MCAs, influenced by the governor, passed laws leading to price hikes in hospitals and increases in county levies.
Additionally, a significant budget allocation for road repairs and maintenance was redirected to less critical projects, such as buying gumboots, without elected MCAs’ approval.
