Power tussle in Nyamira as Speaker expels 10 MCAs, suspends 3 others

A fresh political battle is looming at the Nyamira County Assembly after Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro expelled ten nominated MCAs and suspended three elected MCAs following a disciplinary process.

Nyabaro announced the decision during a special sitting convened yesterday morning.

All the MCAs who were suspended are allies of the impeached Speaker, Mr Enock Okero.

They have been conducting parallel Assembly sessions christened Bunge Mashinani, while Nyabaro led another faction at the Assembly chambers.

Nyabaro made the decision following a report by the Powers and Privileges Committee, chaired by Bonyamatuta Ward Rep Julius Matwere.

The disciplinary processes were instituted against the representatives after they failed to attend the plenary sessions that were being chaired by Mr Nyabaro.

The elected MCAs who were suspended are Lameck Sikweya (Itibo Ward), who will miss 16 sittings; Abel Mose (Magwagwa), who will miss 10 sittings; and Joel Ombingi (Bokeira), who will not attend the Assembly for 16 sittings.

Those who were expelled are United Progressive Party (UPA) Chairman and Rigoma Ward Rep Nyambega Gisesa; Martha Marua (ANC); Janerose Nafula Nyakundi (ODM); Jeriah Nyakangi (UPA); Zipporah Matundura (Wiper); Elijah Abere (UPA); Ednah Obara (UPA); and Beatrice Onyancha (UPA).

The disciplinary action comes amid a power struggle in the corridors of justice between ousted Speaker Enock Okero and Nyabaro, and the Acting Clerk Duke Onyari and Sylvanus Nyamora.

Nyabaro got the impetus to exercise the powers of a Speaker after the Bomet High Court ruled that Mr Okero was impeached and that Nyabaro was eligible to be the House Chairman, pending gazettement that had not been done at the time.

Justice Julius Ng’arng’ar’s ruling is subject to an appeal by Mr Okero, in a case set for hearing on 23 July.