The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2023 has been read for the first time in the National Assembly.
The Bill sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei seeks to amend Section 40 of the County Governments Act by increasing the threshold of voting in a County Assembly for the removal of a member of a County Executive Committee (CEC).
Article 10 of the Constitution provides for the national values and principles applicable to State officers when exercising public power. These values and principles include good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability.
One of the means of ensuring accountability in the exercise of public power is oversight of members of the executive by the legislature at both levels of government.
If enacted, the bill will enhance the mandate of county assemblies to oversight county executive committees.
Currently, Section 40 of the County Governments Act allows a CEC member to be removed by a vote of one-third of the County Assembly members.
A member can be removed from office over gross violation of the Constitution or any other law, incompetence, abuse of office, gross misconduct or if convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for at least six months.
