MCAs oppose Speaker's 'forceful' return to work

County assembly members have condemned the Speaker's 'forceful' return to office.

On Monday morning, Speaker Ann Adul went back to her office in spite of the MCAs' recent move to impeach her.

Ms Adul is said to have gained access to the office with the help of her supporters who escorted her to the premises.

County assembly operations nearly stalled recently when wrangles between some MCAs and the Speaker intensified, forcing the assembly to shut down operations after the mace allegedly disappeared.

It emerged that the mace had been taken to the police station by MCAs allied to Ms Adul after the assembly was adjourned.

The MCAs led by Majority Leader Samuel Ong'ow and newly elected clerk Owen Okoth recovered the mace and took it back to the assembly before resuming business.

They then 'impeached' the Speaker for allegedly contravening the assembly standing orders by suspending House sittings indefinitely without consulting them.

The Speaker was later reinstated by the High Court in Kisumu.

abusive language

The MCAs opposed to Adul's tenure termed her return "barbaric" and "a threat to devolution".

Finance committee chairman James Were said they did not support Adul's behaviour, which he described as tantamount to intimidation.

"Instead of chest thumping and resorting to abusive language, she should be remorseful and seek dialogue or wait for the determination of her case by the court," he said.

Adul, however, justified her 'forceful' re-entry, saying it was the right thing to do.

"I had been locked out by the MCAs and when the court reinstated me I had to break the lock in order to get in because they were not willing to open the door for me," she said.