Siaya MCAs Threaten Executive Ouster Over Stalled Projects

Members of the Siaya County Assembly have escalated a standoff with the county executive, threatening drastic action, including possible removal from office, over what they describe as widespread failure to implement development projects.

During a heated plenary session, MCAs accused the executive arm of a “systemic failure” that has left key projects stalled with barely two months remaining to the close of the 2025/2026 financial year.

The lawmakers expressed anger over what they termed as the executive’s “neglect and refusal” to procure, award and implement projects already approved in the county budget, warning that the situation is eroding public trust and putting their political futures at risk.

The motion, tabled by Central Gem MCA Silas Mandingu, seeks to summon all County Executive Committee members, chief officers and procurement directors to explain the delays.

Mandingu reminded the House of a prior agreement between the assembly and the executive.

“That commitment has been flattened,” he told the House, referring to a joint consultative meeting held on December 10, 2025, where it had been agreed that all projects would be tendered by the end of January 2026.

A formal request for a status report elicited a vague, evasive, and unconvincing response, devoid of material particulars, timelines, and accountability.”

Political Pressure Mounts

The debate quickly turned emotional as MCAs described mounting pressure from constituents frustrated by stalled development.

Scholastica Madowo (South East Alego) termed the implementation crisis a “cancer” within the county system.

“It is the MCA who bears the brunt. My people believe I am the one failing to deliver, yet my role is oversight,” she said.
“Many of us will not come back to this House simply because of this lack of implementation.”

Her sentiments were echoed by South Sakwa MCA Eunice Ndolo, who warned that abandoned projects were politically damaging elected leaders.

She cited a stalled Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre where a contractor reportedly abandoned the site over non-payment.

Claims of Sabotage and Poor Performance

Other MCAs accused the executive of incompetence and possible sabotage of development programmes.

East Gem MCA Seth Baraka contrasted Siaya’s performance with neighboring Vihiga County, saying the latter was making visible progress in road construction while Siaya lagged behind.

He noted that in some wards, residents had resorted to planting banana trees in the middle of dilapidated roads as a form of protest.

In West Uyoma, MCA Justus K’oguta questioned discrepancies between official communication and the situation on the ground, pointing to a Sh47 million water project that had been publicly highlighted but had yet to be procured.

Ouster Threat Looms

With frustrations boiling over, North Sakwa MCA Oliver Arika called for drastic measures, urging the House to consider invoking Article 181 of the Constitution of Kenya to remove non-performing officials.

“If the executive cannot do their job as demanded by law, let us do our job and ensure those responsible are ousted,” Arika stated.

Assembly Moves to Act

Speaker George Okode directed that the executive be formally required to submit a comprehensive response to the issues raised before the House proceeds with a substantive motion.

He emphasized that the assembly would not be complicit in the executive’s failure to meet its legal obligations.

The House further resolved to involve members of the public, civil society, and the media in upcoming deliberations to enhance transparency and accountability over what lawmakers termed as the “detriment caused to the great people of Siaya.”

The escalating standoff signals a deepening political crisis in the county, with the potential to reshape the relationship between the assembly and the executive ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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