Nairobi County Assembly suspends sittings, bans foreign travel

Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi has suspended county assembly sittings for the next  30 days to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among MCAs and county assembly staff.

Elachi says the plenary sittings remain suspended beginning Tuesday, March 17 but special sittings may be called in case of a “compelling need.”

According to the speaker, suspension of the House sittings was made following a meting of the County Assembly Business Committee, which schedules business for the Assembly and prepares the Assembly calendar.

The speaker says the committee made the decision in view of the fact that the County Assembly is located “in a high risk area.”

She also noted that a number of MCAs and staff have recently travelled to destinations affected by the virus.

Elachi further pointed out that the Assembly has already “dispensed with urgent business particularly the ratification of the Deed of Transfer of Functions from the County Government to the National Government.”

The Deed shall come into force as from Tuesday, March 17.

Speaker Elachi also banned all foreign travel by members and staff of the Assembly with immediate effect.

“Visiting to the County Assembly by schools and other groups either local or internationals delegations are suspended forthwith,” added the Speaker.

Members of County Assembly and staff who have within the past 14 days returned to the country from a destination with confirmed coronavirus cases have been advised to self-quarantine or seek medical check-up.