By Juma Magino
BUSIA:
The Busia district speaker Hon. Juma Odero has suspended three councilors accused of misconduct that resulted in the assault of his deputy, Hon. Charles Kudedi Malowa, during the last council at the district headquarters.
The trio was suspended on Wednesday, 31st May, 2023.
According to information obtained by our reporter, the suspended councilors are accused of causing a fist fight and chaos during the last council sitting where they physically assaulted and pelted water bottles at fellow leaders. They have been suspended for 4 sittings.
Those suspended include; the Deputy Mayor Mrs. Suzan Nandera, the Elders Councilor Hon. Elijah Banda and Hon. Abasa Bruhan who is also the secretary for production at Busia district.
Trouble started shortly after the district LCV chairperson Mr. Stephen Wasike Mugeni nominated two members to fill the positions of Secretary for finance and District Vice chairperson on the District Executive Committee.
The members nominated by Mr. Mugeni were Hon. Peter Nakeri, the district councilor Lumino Town Council and Hon. Nasisamba of Masafu Town council. However, some of the councilors resisted the appointment of the two members, something which prompted the Deputy Speaker to ask the members to engage in a secret ballot to consider the majority.
After the secret ballot, it was revealed that 39 out of the 41 councilors had voted in favor of the 2 nominees, but still the results were protested until the deputy speaker decided to adjourn the meeting. This turned the events sour as councilors became rowdy while exchanging water bottles and blows.
The suspended councilors, according to the Speaker, reached to an extent of grabbing the deputy speaker and throwing him out of the council hall and destroyed official documents belonging to the clerk to council. He was saved by police.
In an interview with our reporter, Mr. Odero disclosed that these members will miss two council meetings and two committees of council as investigations on the matter continue.
Abasa Bruhan and Elija Odero Banda both confirmed to our reporter about their suspension and disclosed that it is linked to the recent disagreement they had with other leaders at the council which resulted in the exchanging of blows.
Meanwhile, Hon. Amuza Hussein the acting chairperson of Finance committee of municipality revealed that the council on 31/5/2023 passed a shs.15bn budget which will cater for service delivery to the people of Busia municipality and these funds will come from government and local revenue.
However, the passing of this budget has been greatly criticized by members of the public after being approved early in the morning at 9AM (Wednesday 31/5/2023).
