Wantam !:  Nakuru activist Laban Omusundi defends petition over nominated MCAs’ term limit

Nakuru-based civil rights activist and governance expert Laban Omusundi has raised his case against nominated Members of County Assembly (MCAs), serving more than one term limit.

Omusundi who has filed a petition before Senate seeking to amend the law and introduce a one-term limit for the nominated MCAs appeared before the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to defend it arguing that the move would curb the recycling of nominated leaders across counties and create opportunities for new entrants into politics.

The activist observed that the current legal framework does not expressly bar a nominated MCA from serving in one county assembly and later securing another nomination in a different county, creating what he describes as a loophole that political parties can exploit.

“What informed my petition is that we have seen situations where an individual is nominated in one county and later finds their way into another county assembly through nomination. The law has not adequately closed that loophole, meaning the same practice can be repeated in future elections,” he says.

According to Omusundi, while previous court decisions addressed individual disputes over such nominations, they did not amend the law to permanently prevent similar cases from recurring.

He argues that political parties, particularly those controlled by influential leaders, can move nominated members from one county to another instead of allowing fresh candidates to serve.

“There is still room for someone who has already benefited from nomination to be transferred to another county and be nominated again. That denies other deserving people the same opportunity,” he says.

Omusundi says nomination was intended to provide a platform for special interest groups and emerging leaders who may not have the financial or political strength to win elective seats.

“If you have served one term through nomination, you have already been given a platform to expose yourself politically. You can then seek an elective seat or pursue other opportunities, allowing another deserving person to benefit from nomination,” he notes.

He adds that repeatedly nominating the same individuals creates an unhealthy political culture.

“Recycling the same people creates a bad habit. Nomination should not become a permanent political career. It should open doors for more people to maximize their potential,” he says.

Although his petition does not seek to outlaw the nomination of relatives of political leaders, Omusundi says his concern is that influential figures within political parties could use their control over party lists to recycle the same individuals by moving them between counties.

“My concern is not necessarily about family relations because those can be difficult to regulate in law. The issue is ensuring that the nomination process does not become a preserve for the same people election after election,” he says.

Omusundi says he appeared before the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on July 23 via a virtual session, during which members sought clarification on various aspects of the proposal.

He says the committee is expected to consider the submissions before issuing its recommendations, expressing optimism that feedback could be received within 60 days