Press Point Writer
Outgoing Isiolo Assembly Speaker Hussein Roba has lamented over graft in the county and called for concerted efforts from all to wipe out the menace.
Having being at the House leadership for the last five years, Mr Roba said he was aware of what was going on in the county and that he would “correct the mess” if elected the Senator in the August elections.
Mr Roba is vying on KANU ticket against Nuh Mohammed (Independent), Deputy Governor Abdi Issa (PNU) and incumbent Senator Fatuma Dullo of Jubilee Party.
In what was construed to be an attack on civil societies, he said the lobbies must stop graft in the county even if it means using force.
“Let us come together and fight graft. I will, if elected, show the executive and assembly what is going on and how it should be corrected,” he said.
Mr Roba said the incoming team of MCAs and Speaker must reduce corruption from “inside and outside”. “We must reset the button and significantly reduce it,” he said.
The Speaker said his adminstration had achieved significant changes despite facing myriad of challenges that included inheriting an ineffective system, external political interference in their oversight, abuse of office and lack of professionalism.
The achievements include promotion of more than 50 staff who had stagnated in one job group for several years and employment of 54 staff on four year contract to a tune of Sh60 million annually.
During his tenure, he said, 178 motions were debated and adopted, 108 statements were sought (but did not reveal if responses were provided) and one petition heard and determined.
The passed laws and policies are Appropriations laws, Isiolo Water and Sewerage Services Act, Finance Act, Women, Youths and PWDs Act and Livestock Management policy.
Others are Climate Change Fund Act, Rangeland Management policy, Frontier counties development Act and Disaster risk management policy.
He also claimed that his adminstration had streamlined procurement and County Assembly Service Board and cited the modern chambers that is almost complete as a flagship project.
He cited dismal oversight, redundant performance of Public Investment and Account Committees and failure by implementation committees to adhere to Auditor General’s reports as their performance weak links.
In a June 30 letter, Mr Roba said even though he experienced challenges coping to public bureaucracies in the beginning, he commenced with improvement to heavy inadequacies to the institution including non-remittance of statutory deductions, unreliable medical schemes and poor staff welfare.
“It is my honest feeling that I concluded my term on a high note notwithstanding the challenges we encountered,” he said.
