By KPC Reporter
A wing of the troubled County Assembly of Nyamira resumed sittings Thursday after a long break and filled various House leadership positions.
However, the move got dismissed as null and void by another faction.
Also Read
During the elections in a session chaired by embattled speaker Enock Okero, Magwagwa ward representative Abel Mokaya was elected as Deputy Speaker, while Nyambega Gisesa of Rigoma ward took the position of Majority Leader.
The positions of Majority Whip, Minority Leader and Minority Whip were taken by Alfayo Ngeresa, Martha Marwa and Lydia Mosiere respectively.
Okero who was controversially impeached last year, chaired the session dubbed Bunge Mashinani in Magwagwa ward, weeks after the High Court sitting in Nyamira barred Ekerenyo ward representative, Thadius Nyabaro from assuming the role of speaker.
Court intervention
Lady Justice Winfrida Okwany had ordered in a matter petitioned by Edwin Ochoko verses the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the county assembly and two others that, “…conservatory orders be and is hereby issued staying the effect and implementation including gazetting of the purpotted election of the 1st interested party (Nyabaro) as speaker.”
Court documents detailed the county assembly and clerk Duke Onyari as first and second respondent respectively, while Nyabaro and IEBC are listed as first and second interested parties respectively.
The petitioner told the court that on 19th December 2024, the IEBC unlawfully cleared who was sworn into office as speaker “in the manner that is unconstitutional and in direct disregard of multiple electoral laws relating to the election of the speaker of county assembly including the Nyamira County Assembly Standing Orders.”
He further argued that the decision was deeply concerning and objectionable since there was no vacancy in the office of the speaker.
In the directive issued on February 10th, Justice Okwany also restrained Nyabaro “from purporting to act and or discharge duties as speaker” of the county assembly.
Unending wrangles
The assembly has had wrangles since last year, precipitated by an attempt to impeach Okero, whom a section of MCAs accused of various offences including gross misconduct.
However, Okero stayed put and there has been push and pull, with the judiciary finding itself involved.
Due to the crisis, the assemblers took sides last year, with Okero camp occasionally holding sittings at ward level dubbed Bunge Mashinani.
Nyabaro and his allies including Vincent Benecha and Charles Keganda of Kiabonyoru and Bosamaro Ward representatives respectively dismissed the meetings convened by Okero.
Nyabaro said the impeachment of Okero cannot be reversed and therefore he cannot transact business as speaker.However, Gisesa who has stood with Okero since his tribulations started said the Nyabaro faction should stop balkanising the Assembly as it derails service to the electorate.
Protest over funds
Meanwhile, some members of staff and MCAs Thursday took to the streets to picket over the alleged withholding of their salaries, allowances and medical cover amounting to Sh300 million.
The protesters led by Deputy Clerk David Ombego addressed the press before presenting their memorandum to the office of the Governor.
The stalemate over release of funds to the Assembly by the Executive started in October last year soon after impeachment of Okero as speaker.
Sources intimated to KPC that since the impeachment of Okero occurred in October last year, a lot had happened with some MCAs switching the positions they held before then.
