Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has defended himself after he received a show cause notice from Nairobi County Assembly Majority Whip Moses Ogeto over attending the Nairobi Rivers Commission engagement meeting at the official residence of the Deputy President in Karen.
In a letter to Ogeto on Monday, May 6, Alai said he had no prior communication against attending the event at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s residence.
“I must clarify that I received no prior formal or informal communication advising against participation in the referenced meeting. It is crucial to specify how this directive was communicated to ensure that no such oversight occurs in the future,” read the letter in part.
The ODM MCA questioned the rationale behind restricting Azimio MCAs from attending government functions in official capacities.
Alai pointed out that elected leaders are representatives of the people and not mere followers of directives that do not serve their constituents' best interests.
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“How can we prevent adverse outcomes for those we represent by being barred from such critical discussions? The recent developments affecting those we represent in Mathare, Embakasi, and Langata are direct results of policies made without input. By side-lining Azimio One Kenya Coalition Party elected leaders from contributing to policy discussions, aren't we failing the very people who depend on us to safeguard their interests?” he posed.
Alai argued that Azimio hold the Majority side in the Nairobi County Assembly and chairs the crucial sectoral committee of Environment and Natural Resources together with that of Planning and Housing hence is required to implement policies adopted from engagements.
At the same time, he noted that the Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly Kennedy Ngo’di who is nominated under Azimio wing requested the attendance of MCA in the meeting at Gachagua’s residence.
“The meeting was held at the Deputy President's official residence, which also serves as his other office for functions with larger attendees. I wonder how attending and engaging stakeholders, including the Deputy President, in such a setting qualifies as an unethical dalliance,” Alai added.
On May 2, Ogeto in a show cause letter to Alai said the Kileleshwa MCA deified communication to skip the Nairobi Rivers Commission engagement meeting.
The Nairobi Majority Whip mentioned that Alai disrespected the house leadership and showed open affection towards Kenya Kwanza by attending the event.
“Your public display, conduct and general comportment not only violates sections 14A of the political Parties Act 2011, Article 11 of the party constitution and the party's code of conduct that signed but has facilitated to send mixed signals and cause unnecessary anxiety within the party membership and supporters,” Ogeto stated.
He asked Alai to submit a written explanation of his conduct with a valid cause why he should not face disciplinary action.
During the event on April 24, DP Gachagua called out Azimio MCAs for declining the invitation to attend the meeting and requesting it be held at a neutral venue.
“We invited everybody and I am very grateful to those who have been able to come some have given apologies but I was told a section of the county assembly from one side of the coalition said they needed a neutral venue.
“For the purposes of being very explicit, the Office of the Deputy President has the role of coordinating intergovernmental delegations so when we invite you here this is your office because intergovernmental delegations are done from here,” Gachagua stated.
