Nakuru County Assembly sittings suspended indefinitely

The Nakuru County Assembly has suspended its sittings indefinitely due to instances of infighting allegedly involving by members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Joel Maina decried the cases, expressing that they have brought House activities to a standstill.

"For the past days, the plenary sittings have unfortunately degenerated into regrettable disorder and chaos. This is happening despite the existence of express provisions of our standing orders that governs how members should conduct themselves during the proceedings," said Speaker Maina.

"Today, yet again we are witnessing actions by a section of members who have decided to disregard the Constitution, legal statutes and our standing orders and instead, resorted to courting anarchy inside this dignified house."

Consequently, the Speaker announced the immediate adjournment of the Assembly, stating that it would be suspended indefinitely, with a date for resumption to be communicated later.

"Based on this continuous disregard to our standing orders, an affront to the Constitution, statutes, and lack of respect to the authority of the seat of the Speaker, I once again wish to invoke the provisions of Standing Order 110 and adjourn this House forthwith, to a date to be communicated.( the House is therefore adjourned indefinitely)," he said.

Tensions at the Nakuru County Assembly have been high in recent past following a series of contentious activities, among them the ouster of former Majority Leader Alex Langat on September 11, 2024.

Langat's impeachment motion was filed on grounds that he was obstructing their oversight role and sidelining them from important county affairs.

All 31 MCAs allied to UDA voted in favour of Langat's impeachment motion.

“This is to inform the Speaker of the decision made during the meeting on Monday, September 9 where all the 31 County Representatives allied to UDA unanimously voted to remove the majority leader,” a letter, signed by Biashara Ward MCA, Fadhili Msuri, communicating the decision reads.

“Langat has not called a meeting for UDA members for two years, thereby denying them a platform to discuss matters crucial to the party.”

The Nakuru legislators subsequently elected Keringet MCA William Mutai to succeed Langat. The move did not sit well with non-UDA-allied members of the Assembly. 

This was further compounded by the UDA members' previous attempts to impeach Nakuru County Secretary Samuel Mwaura who survived another ouster motion in May. 

The motion, tabled by Menengai East MCA Wilson Mwangi, split the House into two factions, with one allied to Governor Susan Kihika opposing it.