Bungoma MCAs say they shouldn’t be charged parking fees

Members of the County Assembly want to be exempted from paying parking fees, saying they are people’s representatives and lawmakers who should not be forced to follow their own laws.

They said it was wrong for the county government to force them to pay the daily Sh100 parking fees.

They added that being members of the legislative arm of the county they deserved to be exempted.

Speaking at Bungoma’s Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) Hall during a meeting with county revenue and finance officers, the MCAs led by Chesikaki Ward representative Ben Kipkut said that paying parking fees was akin to undermining their legislative powers.

Bungoma County revenue director Ambrose Makokha, however, dismissed the move, saying that only Cabinet Secretaries and members of the diplomatic corps were exempted from the fee.

“MCAs, county ministers and chief officers must pay the parking fees. They are not immune to it,” he said.

The MCAs threatened not pass the County Finance Bill until their grievances were addressed.

“The finance document has an ill motive towards MCAs who are the legislative arm of the county government. It does not capture our grievances. Why should we pass the Bill that will undermine us?” Mr Kipkut posed.

Mr Makokha, however, promised them that their issues will be addressed in the Bill.

Chief finance officer Chrispinus Barasa said that they were taking the MCAs through the Finance Bill to enable them understand their roles before its passage.

“We are just taking them through the Finance Bill so that they can understand their role. The Bill is yet to be passed, some changes can be done,” he said.

He added that they are targeting Sh731 million revenue target this financial year after effecting the liquor licence levy as an additional source of revenue.