Machakos County Assembly Speaker suspends sittings after 3 MCAs injured in fracas

Machakos County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya has suspended all sittings following a day of drama in the House that left three MCAs nursing injuries and Kiusya locked up in her office under police protection.

MCAs opposed to Kiusya—who are planning her impeachment—accuse her of sneaking motions into the order paper, failing to complete projects started by the former Speaker, and denying MCAs offices funds.

Those in the sSpeaker's camp accuse the executive of engineering her ouster and insist she will not vacate her position.

Drama started in the morning when the House Business Committee under the leadership of Speaker Kiusya met to plan for the Assembly business after recess.

It is alleged that the group opposed to her disrupted the session with a plan to introduce a fresh motion to impeach her.

Muthwani MCA Dominic Maithya said: “Ambaye ameleta hii vita ni mheshimiwa Lucky wa Matungulu ambaye ni Majority Whip, kwa sababu wakati ameona spika ametumia nguvu zake katika standing order number 1 ya kuweka biashara katika bunge, aliamka na akakimbilia kuchukua karatasi iliyowekwa misaada yote…wakati alizuiliwa alichukua kiti akajaribu kumrushia kiti, ndio mheshimiwa Don waliamka kumtetea spika ..."

Lucky Nzau, Matungulu West MCA, on his part retorted: "Nimeumizwa na vitu hata sijui tena mkutano watu walitembea nyuma yetu, nyuma yetu kidogo naskia nimegongwa na uko kwa mkutano…unalazimisha miswada iende kwa bunge yenye committee ya house business, tuko na members more than 10 and you rule and see it has to come ..."

Following the scuffle which left three MCAs nursing injuries, the Speaker was whisked by security officers to her office where she remained for the rest of the day. The move forced MCAs to camp outside her offices, those against Kiusya insisting they will push for her removal.

Machakos County Assembly Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka stated; "Sisi tuko na jukumu kumwambia the time is now to leave office, tutafute a competent speaker. Last year bunge hili ilirudisha 250 million Treasury."

Deputy Speaker Stephen Mwanthi added:”Ukienda hapo nje utapata chambers ilijengwa na former speaker, ilikwamia hapo mpaka wa leo, yet kila mwaka tuko na bajeti, inakuja mwisho wa mwaka pesa inarudi kwa exchequer, ward offices zetu hazina curtain, kiti hapo ndio waheshimiwa wanasema kuna incompetence hapa."

However, those in support of Speaker Kiusya have accused Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti of having a hand in the wrangles and called for calm, vowing she will continue to serve.

Muthwani MCA Dominic Maithya said: “Wapende wasipende speaker ndiye speaker wa bunge, tutaingia kwa bunge hata kama ni mwaka gani kuhakikisha biashara ya bunge imeendelea. Gavana Wavinya, wacha bunge ifanye kazi yake na wewe ufanye kazi yako ..."

In light of the new developments, Speaker Kiusya has suspended all sittings indefinitely.