This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi has taken steps to enhance communication between the assembly and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). The move comes after the Speaker hinted at the formation of an office to improve communication between the two entities in June 2020.
On July 14, 2020, Elachi established a committee known as the Nairobi City County Emerging Issues sub-committee, which will comprise nine MCAs and be chaired by Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, deputised by nominated MCA Susan Makungu.
The committee's primary role will be to act as an interface between the county and the Major General Mohammed Badi-led office on functions that have been transferred. This includes looking into emerging issues in the county, such as the coronavirus pandemic, and providing a framework for dealing with the same.
According to Elachi, the establishment of the committee is part of wider plans to have a framework of engagement between the two entities. The committee will recommend a few NMS officers to appear before the committee and brief on the transferred functions.
During its first engagement with NMS team last week, the sub-committee discussed the need for an interface that can help members work in terms of legislative function and overseeing the transferred functions. The committee will act as the point of contact between MCAs and the new office where the two parties will use to channel their issues for consideration by working on behalf of the whole House as an interface between the MCAs and officers from NMS for smooth running of the transferred functions.
Additionally, a liaison office will be established, to be domiciled at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), and will be made up of Secretariat from both the assembly and NMS to work on the technical bits of the engagement. The Secretariat will be made up of contact persons from both sides to help know who to target when issues need to be addressed.
