Embu, Kenya: An Embu MCA, who caused uproar across the country after he asked the Senate to introduce a “loneliness” allowance to Ward Representatives has now apologised to Kenyans.
Runyenjes MCA Steve Simba said as a leader, he has an obligation to apologise to Kenyans who misunderstood his statement, even as he puts his remarks in the right perspective.
He maintained he was quoted out of context and he did not actually mean that MCAs wives and husbands should be paid by the government at a time when the country is struggling with a high wage bill.
Speaking Saturday after he visited youth at Runyenjes Stadium, Simba said his remarks were blown out of proportion by his political nemesis adding that it might affect his political ambitions of running for the presidency in the future.
“I was quoted out of context. I am a seasoned politician and I know the procedure of tabling a motion. I never meant that MCAs wives should be paid an allowance. It was just to add to what I was talking about on MCAs being promised goodies ahead of the referendum and on the need to look at it soberly,” he said.
Simba further alleged he was being fought by 23 MCAs who snubbed an invitation to a retreat in Kisumu by the Governor Martin Wambora, yet they went ahead to pocket per diems amounting to over Sh700,000 and air tickets of about Sh300,000 paid for them.
He said they started fighting him after he challenged them to return the taxpayers money so that it can be used as bursaries for poor children.
He said the same MCAs had tried to impeach the governor and he had refused to join them.
Simba also criticised the Senate for what he termed as reluctance to dispense their mandate and sheer laxity when dealing with county issues.
He said he would support a referendum that would include a question to abolish and completely scrap the Senate.
“I’m left wondering whether the Senate is the upper House or the Lower House or even a side House of Parliament. I will support the referendum if there will be a question on whether the Senate will remain or should be scrapped,” he said.
-standardmedia.co.ke
