Kisumu MCAs accept Raila's choice for Speaker

Deputy Speaker Pamela Jossy being escorted to Assembly by Sergent-at-Arms. The Members of County Assembly have now bowed to pressure and allowed Jossy to chair the House sessions, following intervention from CORD leader Raila Odinga. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

Kisumu,Kenya: Kisumu Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have finally bowed to pressure and allowed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's chosen speaker to chair the House sessions.

Kondele Ward Rep Gabriel Ochieng who had been presiding over the sittings in the Assembly as acting speaker since October last year resigned yesterday to give room for deputy Speaker Pamela Jossy.

This comes even as Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale asked the Senate Committee on Devolution to speedily intervene in the Kisumu wrangles, fuelled by a power struggle.

Mr Khalwale said the turmoil that has engulfed the backyard of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader is a threat to devolution and a wake up call to the Senate.

"The fact that it has taken Raila's intervention to stop wrangling in Kisumu is a big statement on the failure of the Senate. I urge Senate Committee on Devolution to move in immediately," said Khalwale.

Yesterday's resolution could mark the end of persistent wrangles, which have threatened to cripple operations in the Assembly. The MCAs cited Raila's directive as the reason behind their retreat.

"Legally, I am recognised as the substantive speaker. But I have decided to honourably leave office for the deputy speaker as the party leader (Raila) had ordered," said Mr Ochieng.

He added: "We expect the decision will bring to an end the stalemate in the assembly because we are in the 2015/2016 budget making process which we do not want to be paralysed."

Ms Jossy, however, maintained Raila had not dictated the position to the MCAs, saying: "It is in the law that if the speaker is not in office, the deputy takes over."

"We have formally agreed as MCAs and I will chair the next sessions," she added.

The suspended Assembly Majority Leader Samuel Ong'ow however blamed 'outside forces' for orchestrating the chaos in the Assembly.

"The stalemate was not caused by the MCAs; outsiders are trying to divide the Assembly," he said.

OUTSIDE INFLUENCE

"However, we are now united and will bring to an end this challenge and ensure we deliver services to the people," Ong'ow added.

He also agreed that the change of heart was as a result of the directive given by Raila, when he held a meeting with leaders in the county last month, to broker a peace deal.

The MCAs also hinted that they are likely to drop the motion seeking to impeach the Deputy Speaker, after it generated a lot of heat from local residents.

"The motion was sponsored by members of the majority party in the Assembly. It is up to them to decide on the fate of the motion," said Mr Ong'ow.

However, Assembly's Minority Leader Edwine Anayo said the minority party do not have such intention, and accused ODM members of being behind the ouster bid.

The growing perception that they had openly continued defying Raila's directive forced the ward reps to retreat to a closed-door meeting yesterday, where they ended the stalemate.

The apparent defiance had drawn the wrath of the ODM hierarchy, leaders and even residents, with some calling for the dissolution of the Assembly.

ODM had suspended two assembly leaders, Ong'ow and his deputy John Olum following chaos that saw Jossy assaulted in the Assembly by the sergeant-at-arms last week.

Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said the happenings in Kisumu county must not be ignored by CORD leadership, adding that the best thing that can ever happen is to dissolve the county government.

"Dissolution of Kisumu county government must now be an agenda item," said Mr Gumbo.

He claimed the happenings in Kisumu is a total embarrassment to devolution, and blamed it on levels of education of the MCAs.

"They have failed to understand their oversight role and instead, engaged in side-shows, gossip and blackmail. Most disturbingly, these fellows seem to have no clue on how to draw a line between oversight, supervision and meddlesome micromanagement," said Gumbo.

ODM Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi also warned assembly's Leader of Majority, saying that the party leader's action to bring sanity in the Assembly should not be taken for granted.

STERN WARNING

"The party position on the Assembly has been clearly articulated by both the party leader and secretary general. It's clear and unambiguous. Any leader who continues to contradict it is certainly doing so at their own peril," said Wandayi.

He added: "Some of the local leaders have already crossed the red line through their actions and outbursts. They will soon be a living testimony to what the party is prepared to do, to assert it's authority."

Kasipul Kabondo MP Sylvance Osele told The Standard that what is happening in Kisumu should be viewed in a broader picture, with regard to the success or failure of devolution.

He told the majority leader that party stalwarts are observing. "He should not expect the party leader to keep flying to Kisumu every morning to go and manage them if they can't manage themselves," he said.