Nyamira assembly chaos: Residents want House operations suspended

Nyamira County Assembly has turned into a battle ground. Ward representatives often fight each other over leadership positions.

On Thursday morning, residents lit bonfires on roads leading to the assembly. They were demanding that the House operations be suspended until order is restored.  The protesters were later dispersed by the police.   

The last few months have seen the assembly divided as members clashed with the House leadership and   the executive. Fist fights, running battles with the police, name calling and destruction of the assembly property have become the order of the day.

 Clouds of teargas around the assembly, hired goons by either parties, threats of impeachment and legal battles have hampered service delivery.

Though the House conducted its business on Thursday, Speaker Moffat Teya endured protests by a section of MCAs who demanded that the sergeants-at-arms be withdrawn.

Bomwagamo Ward MCA Charles Barongo said it was wrong for people to stand behind him in this era of Covid-19.

“I want these sergeants-at-arms withdrawn from here. They are a risk to my health," shouted Mr Barongo.

But Speaker Teya said the officers had a right to be anywhere within the House.  

Thursday's chaos came a day after Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo promised to meet the MCAs the following day. The county chief said that a solution must be found to end the wrangles in the assembly.  

While addressing the press in his office in Nyammira Town, the governor said MCAs need to solve their differences amicably. 

 “As a governor, my role is to appeal to the assembly to maintain peace and harmony. I am going to have a meeting on Friday to try and iron out various issues that might be behind the wrangles at the assembly," Mr Nyaribo told journalists.

He, however, condemned a section of MPs whom he claimed had been inciting some MCAs to destabilise the business at the assembly.  

 “We are fully aware that a section of MCAs met two Members of Parliament in Naivasha recently, we know that discussed how to incite other members to bring to halt very important businesses that the assembly had planned to execute,” said Mr Nyaribo.