Kitui County Assembly Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya has raised concern over the frequent absenteeism of nominated Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), warning that the trend is undermining effective representation in the House and service delivery.

Speaking during a plenary sitting on Wednesday, the Speaker faulted some nominated members for skipping both Assembly sittings and key committee meetings, despite their constitutional mandate to represent special interest groups.

Speaker Kinengo singled out nominated MCAs Hon. Mary Mbithe Musili and Hon. Munira Mohamed for missing crucial sittings. He noted that their absence was particularly glaring during deliberations on the Kitui County Youth Empowerment Policy 2025, a crucial framework aimed at improving opportunities for young people across the county.

The Assembly on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, unanimously adopted the policy report, setting the stage for the rollout of programmes aimed at empowering youth across the county. However, Speaker Kinengo expressed disappointment that members tasked with representing special interest groups, including the youth, were missing during such critical discussions.

READ ALSO: Kitui County Assembly Approves Youth Empowerment Policy 2026 to Boost Opportunities

The two MCAs, who sit in the Committee on Culture, Youth, Sports, Gender, and Social Services, were expected to actively participate in the debate and adoption of the policy. The Speaker emphasized that nominated members have a unique responsibility to champion the interests of marginalized groups and must be present to fulfill that mandate.

In a stern warning, Speaker Kinengo vowed to take action against absentee members, stating that accountability measures would be enforced. He indicated that his office would not hesitate to report non-performing MCAs to oversight bodies, including the Office of the Auditor-General Kenya and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, to assess whether public resources allocated to nominated leaders are yielding value for money. “Honourable members, I have a duty to report accordingly to the Auditor-General on whether there is value for money regarding your nomination, and also to the IEBC,” he stated.

Speaker Kinengo further cautioned that nomination to the Assembly is not a ceremonial role, but a constitutional responsibility requiring active participation. He also urged the House leadership to take decisive action to curb absenteeism and ensure members remain accountable to the people they represent.

The remarks have sparked renewed debate on the performance and accountability of nominated MCAs, with calls for stricter enforcement of attendance and participation requirements.

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