Member of County Assembly

Represents the people of a ward in the County Assembly, makes county legislation, and oversees the county executive's use of devolved funds.

• Debates and votes on county Bills and the county budget
• Approves county plans, policies, and development priorities
• Oversees the county executive committee and county departments
• Represents constituents in the ward and channels their concerns

Term

5 years

Term limit

No constitutional limit on number of terms

Elected by

Direct election by registered voters in the ward; one MCA per ward. Additional members are nominated to meet gender and special-interest representation rules.

Accountable to voters in the ward and to the leadership of the County Assembly; required to participate in oversight committees that scrutinise the county executive.

• Voter recall on grounds set out in the Elections Act
• Loss of seat for ceasing to be qualified, breaching the leadership code, or sustained absenteeism

• Unlike an MP, an MCA makes county laws and oversees the county government — not national legislation.
• Unlike a Governor, an MCA does not run county departments; the MCA holds the Governor and the county executive to account.

• MCAs do not directly run ward development projects; they vote on the county budget that funds them.
• MCAs cannot pass national laws or override decisions of Parliament.