There was drama at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon when MCA’s roughed up Nairobi County education CEC Lucia Mulwa and finance Chief Officer Halkana Waqo over delayed bursaries.
The two had appeared before the Nairobi City County Assembly Education Committee to explain why the bursaries that were announced in April had delayed.
“Why have you not issued our bursaries on time, we can’t work this way,” shouted Nairobi West MCA Maurice Otieno Gare at the two.
The two told the committee members that the bursaries had delayed because the Controller of Budget had delayed to release the money.
“We will get back to you members by Friday with a way forward on when you will receive these bursaries” Lucia told the angry MCA’s.
The committee members led by Clay City MCA Mwaura Samora attempted to force the two officers to address a joint press conference to explain the delay and apologize to City residents.
The two officers declined and decided to walk out of the meeting.
Angry MCAs roughed up the finance Chief Officer Halkano Waqo.
The Education CEC Lucia Mulwa took to her heels and reportedly hid under a table in one of the committee rooms at the Nairobi City County Assembly precincts.
During the push and pull, MCAs exchanged bitter and unpleasant words with Waqo.
“I have said bursaries will come, please Honorable members! Leave me alone, I beg you!” Waqo pleaded with the MCAs.
The ugly incident forced the Sergeant at Arms to intervene.
The officers were whisked away through the Assembly back door from the angry MCAs by the Sergeants and their bodyguards.
The Education Committee is chaired by Ziwani MCA Millicent Mugandi.
In April, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko launched the electronic transfer of bursary funds directly to schools to curb corruption.
He announced that the County has now stopped issuing bursary cheques to beneficiaries.
“Sending money electronically to recipients’ bank accounts will minimize a lot of challenges, including errors on the cheques such as signatures,” Sonko said