The Nairobi County Assembly on
Tuesday descended into fisticuffs
over national politics pitting the
Jubilee and Cord alliances.
Members of the County Assembly
(MCAs) from the two sides had to
be separated by sergeants who had
a hard time keeping apart some of
the ward representatives.
Trouble started when the Leader
of the Minority Abdi Guyo stood to
issue a personal statement and
made reference to the March 2013
General Election in connection to
the political rallies held over the
weekend to welcome former Prime
Minister Raila Odinga home from
the US.
PROMPTED WALKOUT
“We welcome baba back, but he
should know that on March 4…,”
he started before his speech was
drowned by protests from Cord
members.
Chaos started barely an hour after
the Assembly, which has been in
recess for the past month resumed
sittings.
The Speaker, Alex Ole Magelo,
expelled the minority leader from
the House after he refused to
apologise over the Raila remark,
prompting a walkout by Jubilee
members.
“It’s a very painful moment. I told
you to keep national politics out of
this assembly. I have to ask the
leader of minority to leave,” the
Speaker said.
The confrontation is reminiscent of
the defunct City Council days and
could upset the cordial relations
the two parties have maintained in
the assembly over the past year.
ISSUE ILLEGAL ORDERS
This has seen the assembly pass 10
Bills, which is considered one of
the highest among the 47 devolved
units. Jubilee has 63 ward
representatives compared to Cord’s
64.
“It’s very unfortunate that the
Speaker of the County Assembly
has given in to pressure from
hooligans in this House,” said Mr
Guyo said outside the assembly.
“I want to warn Mr Magelo that as
the Speaker he has to follow the
law or I’ll take him to court for
issuing illegal orders in this
House.”
In the absence of the deputy
Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, Sarang’ombe
MCA Pius K’otieno was forced to
take over the Speaker’s seat after
Mr Magelo left in a huff.
Tuesday descended into fisticuffs
over national politics pitting the
Jubilee and Cord alliances.
Members of the County Assembly
(MCAs) from the two sides had to
be separated by sergeants who had
a hard time keeping apart some of
the ward representatives.
Trouble started when the Leader
of the Minority Abdi Guyo stood to
issue a personal statement and
made reference to the March 2013
General Election in connection to
the political rallies held over the
weekend to welcome former Prime
Minister Raila Odinga home from
the US.
PROMPTED WALKOUT
“We welcome baba back, but he
should know that on March 4…,”
he started before his speech was
drowned by protests from Cord
members.
Chaos started barely an hour after
the Assembly, which has been in
recess for the past month resumed
sittings.
The Speaker, Alex Ole Magelo,
expelled the minority leader from
the House after he refused to
apologise over the Raila remark,
prompting a walkout by Jubilee
members.
“It’s a very painful moment. I told
you to keep national politics out of
this assembly. I have to ask the
leader of minority to leave,” the
Speaker said.
The confrontation is reminiscent of
the defunct City Council days and
could upset the cordial relations
the two parties have maintained in
the assembly over the past year.
ISSUE ILLEGAL ORDERS
This has seen the assembly pass 10
Bills, which is considered one of
the highest among the 47 devolved
units. Jubilee has 63 ward
representatives compared to Cord’s
64.
“It’s very unfortunate that the
Speaker of the County Assembly
has given in to pressure from
hooligans in this House,” said Mr
Guyo said outside the assembly.
“I want to warn Mr Magelo that as
the Speaker he has to follow the
law or I’ll take him to court for
issuing illegal orders in this
House.”
In the absence of the deputy
Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, Sarang’ombe
MCA Pius K’otieno was forced to
take over the Speaker’s seat after
Mr Magelo left in a huff.
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