Chaos Break Out Inside Nairobi County Assembly as MCAs Clash Over Leadership Changes

Nairobi Members of the County Assembly fight each other on April 23, 2024
Nairobi Members of the County Assembly fight each other on April 23, 2024
Kenyans.co.ke

A scuffle broke out at the Nairobi County Assembly on Tuesday after a section of the Members of the County Assembly clashed over in-house differences.

The wrangles ensued after Ngei Ward MCA Redson Otieno hit out at the speaker, Ken Ngondi who presided over the session that confirmed his ouster as Water Committee Chairperson.

According to Otieno, only the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party had the right to order his removal from the Committee.

In the widely circulated videos, a section of the MCAs could be seen confronting the MCA as other politicians watched from a distance.

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng'ondi (centre) during a church service in Embakasi on Sunday, October 2, 2022..jpg
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng'ondi (centre) during a church service in Embakasi on Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Ken Ng'ondi

The move to confront Redson was similarly met with a repulse from another group of MCAs who quickly rushed to protect one of their own.

“Come and Kill me, I don't fear intimidation,” Redson Onyango could be heard shouting at the County Assembly Speaker as he expressed his displeasure over the dismissal.

The MCA who vowed to defend his stance accused the assembly speaker of bias as he questioned why he was the only one ousted from the committee.

Following the scrimmage, the house speaker was forced to prematurely adjourn the session even as chaos intensified.

While commenting on the matter, Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai faulted the speaker for contravening the constitution by dismissing the Ngei ward MCA from a house committee.

"It is really unfortunate that the speaker is trying to use illegal means to remove people who are elected by the mandate of the people," Alai claimed.

"We are members of this house in a very legal and thorough process as per article 177 of the constitution," the MCA further noted.

According to Alai, the speaker did not have any mandate to disband any committee. Alai also accused the speaker of failing to issue a prior notice to Renson Otieno over his dismissal from the committee.

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai (centre) listens in during a meeting with Azimio's leadership in Nairobi on January 25, 2023.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai (centre) listens in during a meeting with Azimio's leadership in Nairobi on January 25, 2023.
Photo
Robert Alai
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