Chaos broke in Makueni County Assembly chambers on Tuesday during the evening sitting as MCAs exchanged blows over claims of discrimination by Speaker against nominated ward representatives.
The fist fight involved Wiper-nominated MCA Urbanus Wambua alias councillor Kana and his Kasikeu counterpart Julius Monari Tangai. The nominated ward rep sustained injuries and was rushed to a private hospital within Wote town.
Tangai who is elected under PICK party had stood at the floor of the house under a point of order on autonomy and integrity of the honourable house. He sought to know whether Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo had any authority to question why nominated MCAs were kicked out of an all-MCAs retreat at Panari Hotel, Nairobi, over the weekend.
He told off the County MP saying she should stop any form of criticism and opinions on how the County Assembly should operate and concentrate on what she is elected to perform.
He was seconded by Thange Ward MCA Nicholas Maitha who told Museo to use proper channels when she wants to address members of the house.
Friday, Makueni MCAs were called for a meeting in Nairobi to discuss the 2019/2020 budget estimates. However, on Saturday the meeting was adjourned by Harrison Mutie who is the Deputy speaker and Ivingoni/Nzambani ward MCA.
It was learnt later that the elected MCAs had a different communication and they were left to continue with house business barring the nominated MCAs. The County assembly has 15 female nominated MCAs majority from the Wiper party and that was not the first time they were locked out of an assembly retreat. Last year they were kept off a retreat in Mombasa.
When councillor Kana was conducted yesterday after discharge from hospital, said that he stood to defend the Museo's concern that all MCAs should be treated equally and should be involved in house matters only to be attacked by a section of elected MCAs.
“I only stood to respond to claims that Museo had no authority to address matters assembly only to find myself cornered and blows rained on me by elected members led by Tangai,” Wambua said.
According to one of the ward reps who sought anonymity for fear of being sidelined in the assembly, the bad blood in the house has been fuelled by Kalonzo-Kibwana rift and 2022 succession politics.
“This is purely Kalonzo-Kibwana feud. Nominated MCAs from the Wiper party and those allied to Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are getting subjected to discrimination and frustrations,” an MCA said.
Francis Mutuku, Makueni, Wiper chairperson who is the immediate former majority leader said Kana's attackers should be arrested immediately.
“There is discrimination of the highest order in the house. This was done in front of the speaker, the majority leader and the Chief Whip and it’s unacceptable. Nominated MCAs are getting ejected from meeting for some members to share proceeds of corruption in their absence (sic),” Mutuku said.
Speaker Douglas Mbilu said no attacks happened in the assembly terming the whole move as stage-managed.
The injured member has since made statements with the police.
