Members of Murang’a County Assembly have decried being sidelined in the implementation of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
In a report tabled in the house on Tuesday, the MCAs expressed their discontentment in the process that was used in electing agricultural projective grassroots leaders for the project.
Tabling the report, chairperson of the Assembly committee for Agriculture Ms Pauline Muchiri said it was embarrassing that the ward reps were not involved in the project meant to uplift livelihoods of their electorates through boosting of their agricultural activities.
She noted MCAs were not included in activities including public barazas, Participatory Integrated Community Development (PICD), Agripreneurs models among others.
“We have previously raised our dissatisfaction with how NAVCDP meetings are done and there is still no improvement despite their promises to do so,” said Gatanga MCA John Kibaiya.
“I passed by my office the other day only to find employment of clerks and accountants being done without my knowledge. It becomes very shameful when a resident in my ward asks me for something I am not aware of,” remarked Gatanga MCA John Kibaiya.
He also stated that a similar occurrence had happened during the elections of members of Community Development Committee (CDC) and agripreneurs in his ward.
On his part, Kahumbu MCA Isaac Chefman Njoroge said it’s shameful for MCAs not to be involved in development projects being implemented in their wards.
He said MCAs were not aware of the elected leaders earmarked to implement the project yet they are supposed to work with them for the benefit of the residents.
“We do not know the elected leaders, they are not members in this House, they don’t know what we pass here and neither do they know the policies at play. This could turn out to be very dangerous because some are being endorsed by our opponents,” claimed Njoroge.
He added that they were not seeking to micro manage the project but rather be aware and provide the relevant support.
Njoroge further suggested that funds should be set aside to facilitate construction offices for MCAs in their respective wards and halls where all programmes in the Ward would be held.
“This will ensure that the MCAs will always know what is going on in their respective wards in terms of implementation of projects,” he added.
Ms Muchiri responding to the MCAs grievances said when the election of the community leaders for the project were done, she was not chair of the agriculture committee noting that as members of the committee they are working to rectify the mistakes done.
“I have ensured that inclusion of and communication to the honorable members has improved ever since I became chairperson. We have heard your concerns and will ensure effective communication between the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture and the House,” added Ms Muchiri.
The chairperson further urged the CECM to ensure the project is implemented transparently and effectively so that the benefits can accrue to residents of Murang’a County.
“Also the CECM Agriculture should ensure full involvement of the elected members of the County Assembly in launching various programmes in the ward.” She added.
NAVCDP is a community driven development project that seeks to increase market participation and value addition for targeted small-scale farmers in Kenya across 33 counties.
It is currently being implemented in all the 35 wards of Murang’a County, promoting five value chains which include avocado, coffee, dairy, poultry and mango.
By Bernard Munyao and Ndegwa Alex
