The Embu County Assembly is facing a growing quorum crisis, with allegations that some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are deliberately staying away from plenary and committee sittings, disrupting legislative business for several days.
The Assembly reportedly failed to transact substantive business during four scheduled plenary sittings this week after insufficient attendance forced the Speaker to repeatedly adjourn proceedings.
The disruption has raised concerns over the ability of elected ward representatives to discharge their constitutional responsibilities, including legislation, representation and oversight of the county executive.
A spot-check at the Assembly reportedly revealed that some MCAs were present within the precincts but remained outside the debating chamber during scheduled proceedings.
Some were allegedly seen in the Members' Lounge instead of attending sittings.
There were also claims that certain members reported to the Assembly in casual attire, including jeans and T-shirts, despite parliamentary dress requirements, potentially preventing them from participating in formal proceedings.
The reported attendance challenges have extended to committee work, where inadequate participation has affected meetings dealing with matters related to county administration and service delivery.
Questions have also been raised about the preparation of Order Papers, with some previous sittings reportedly featuring limited or no substantive business for debate.
However, the circumstances surrounding the preparation of the Order Papers remain unclear.
One of the more serious allegations circulating within Assembly circles is that some absent members have continued to have attendance registers signed despite allegedly failing to participate in proceedings.
The claim has not been independently verified and would require investigation by the relevant authorities before any conclusions can be drawn.
There are also unconfirmed reports that some MCAs have increasingly focused on political activities ahead of the 2027 General Election, accompanying senior politicians during development launches and commissioning ceremonies as they position themselves for another term.
The allegations have intensified scrutiny of the balance between political mobilisation and the constitutional responsibilities of elected representatives.
County assemblies play a central role in legislation, representation and oversight of county governments.
Prolonged disruptions to their proceedings could affect the consideration of county legislation, scrutiny of public spending and the raising of issues affecting residents.
Deputy Speaker and Kirimari MCA Ibrahim Swaleh downplayed claims of a coordinated go-slow, saying quorum challenges are not unusual in parliamentary institutions.
Swaleh, however, acknowledged the need for members to take their responsibilities seriously. He urged MCAs to uphold integrity, avoid truancy and remain mindful of the public's expectations.
For Embu residents, the concerns extend beyond attendance figures to questions of accountability and representation.
The reported disruptions have raised questions about whether elected representatives are adequately participating in the proceedings through which they are expected to serve their constituents.
