Chaos as Kisumu MCAs kick out Oloo as speaker

Shauri Moyo Kaloleni MCA Priscah Misachi tries to calm youths who were demonstrating outside the Kisumu county assembly demanding the immediate resignation of assembly speaker Onyango Oloo.  [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Kisumu County Assembly yesterday unanimously voted to kick out Onyango Oloo as its speaker.

Mr Oloo who is among suspects charged in the Sh4.1 million fraud at the Lake Basin Development Authority mall, was replaced by North Kisumu MCA Elisha Oraro in an acting capacity.

Chaos erupted as MCAs voted to oust Oloo from office. The leaders exchanged  blows and in the melee, one of the sergeant-at-arms was assaulted.

Trouble started when Deputy Speaker Roy Samo attempted to adjourn the House immediately the afternoon session began.

A group of MCAs ejected Mr Samo from his seat, prompting a fight that led to the other sergeant-at-arms fleeing after their colleague was injured.

Nominated MCA Invioleta Adhiambo took over from Samo and chaired the rest of the session.

Two MCAs

Two MCAs took over the sergeant-at-arms job. While casting their votes, the MCAs argued that they cannot allow Oloo to continue serving as speaker until he is cleared of corruption charges.

Kenneth Okoth, who is the majority leader, said 29 MCAs signed a petition to have a new speaker elected.

“The law requires that Oloo steps aside until such a time that he will be cleared by the courts,” said Mr Okoth.

His sentiments were shared by other MCAs who said, ODM, which is the majority party in the assembly, also directed that Oloo be cut loose until he is cleared by the courts.

The Standard has established that ODM leaders at the county met party MCAs on Monday night and directed them to elect Oraro to take over from Oloo.

When Mr Oraro was declared the acting speaker MCAs forced their way into the Speaker’s office and broke the doors to let him in.

Earlier on, MCAs had debated Oloo’s future amid tight security from police.

Youth engaged police in mock battles outside the Assembly, as they attempted  to storm the  chambers.

The MCAs  had  by  noon congregated  into two factions - one jostling to impeach Oloo, and the other campaigning to have him remain speaker.

Criminal offence

Chanting “Oloo must go!”, the youth argued that the speaker has been charged  with a criminal offence and must step a side.

At one point, Prisca Misachi, an MCA, pleaded with the youth to keep calm but was ignored.

Some MCAs had thrown their weight behind Kajulu MCA Roy Samo, who has been deputising Oloo .

Others had claimed that they had foiled an attempt by some of their colleagues allied to Oloo to adjourn the assembly indefinitely.

Samo had yesterday before the vote claimed that he is the acting speaker, and defied requests from his colleagues to have a vote cast.

“I am the one in charge and we will reject any attempts to elect a new acting speaker,” Samo said.

“The group calling for an election does not prepare the Order paper,” said Samo.

The leadership wrangles have come at a time the assembly is facing a budget stalemate.

About two weeks ago, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o rejected amendments the ward representatives had made on his budget proposals, including an attempt by the MCAs to include a Sh45 million allocation for their wards.