This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
On July 18, 2020, the Nairobi County Assembly Service Board took a crucial step to prevent future disruptions in the assembly's operations. In a bid to avert wrangles, the board created two new positions in the office of the clerk.
The move comes as Speaker Beatrice Elachi and Clerk Jacob Ngwele are embroiled in a bitter dispute over control of the city assembly finances. The ongoing wrangles have led to a stalemate, causing delays in the payment of MCAs' and assembly staffers' June salaries.
The board has created two Deputy Clerk positions, with one in charge of administration and the other legislative services. Acting Clerk Pauline Akuku has been appointed as one of the bearers of the office of Deputy Clerk in charge of administration.
According to Speaker Beatrice Elachi, who also doubles up as the chairperson of the Service Board, the creation of the two new positions was important to ensure operations of the assembly are not interrupted in future. "After a competitive recruitment process, Akuku has been appointed the first occupant of the position of Deputy Clerk in charge of administration," said Elachi.
However, the appointments have attracted criticism from fellow members of the board, who claim they were not included in the process.
