Isiolo MCAs impeach Speaker amid fistfights

Isiolo, Kenya: Members of the Isiolo County Assembly on Thursday evening impeached their Speaker Mr Mohammed Tubi, barely an hour after a chaotic confrontation between opposing sides.

Tubi was removed from office by 15 votes against the opposing five, giving the proponents of the motion, which was moved by Sericho Ward Representative Mr Nura Dipa Billa an overwhelming victory.

The impeachment came barely an hour after an earlier session which was called to discuss the Motion turned chaotic, with rival members of the assembly fighting within the floor.

The members engaged each other after a member, Mr Hassan Shano moved a Motion that sought to postpone the impeachment, which majority members opposed.

Shano said the motion was improperly brought before the House as it had not been discussed and approved by the House Business Committee.

"Mr Speaker Sir, we had no business the whole of this week, because most of the members arrived today from a retreat. This matter could  not be discussed by the Committee because we lacked quorum yesterday (Wednesday).

Tubi ruled that the procedure of the House was not followed and set a meeting of the House Business Committee for yesterday (Friday), which aborted.

It was at this point that the MCAs started fighting using their fists and turned everything upside down.

Armed police officers stormed the Assembly to separate the combatants.

But later on, the reportedly members reconvened the session, where House business went on.

Billa moved the motion, where he tabled a raft of grounds for removal of the Speaker.

Among the grounds was that Mohammed Tubi 'Lacks decorum, often removes his shoes and smokes during sessions.'

He noted that the Speaker is incompetent in running of the assembly affairs, adding that he does not have a grasp of House Standing orders.

“He does not apply or observe Standing orders, while he has not prepared a calendar of sittings of the House,” said Billa.

The Speaker was also accused of failure to constitute a House Business Committee, which he should chair, and that he also participates in motions instead of playing a neutral part.

“He does not also give directions to the House, while he is supposed to offer leadership to the County Assembly. As a result, the welfare of the members has not been taken into consideration,” noted Billa during the session that was chaired by Deputy Speaker Mr David Lemantile.

They also accused him of failure to uphold the constitutional requirement of public participation, adding that members of the public are not involved in the Assembly affairs.

They also accused him of participating in shortlisting and interviewing of candidates for the Clerk’s position.

And yesterday, the proponents said they procedurally impeached Tubi, and that all members signed a resolution to remove him.

At the same time, Kina Ward representatives Mr Adan Waqo was arrested and detained for malicious damage to property.

Waqo, who was among the few members defending the Speaker allegedly rammed into the County Assembly gate, but he was later released.

Both Tubi and Ali were locked out of office as keys to their offices were changed.