Baringo Court orders assembly to resume sessions

BARINGO: The county assembly which had adjourned indefinitely following the removal of the speaker last month has been recalled via a court order.

Members told The Standard that the assembly through its legal team went to the Employment and Labour Relations court seeking prayers to recall the assembly to avert a month-long stalemate.

Deputy Speaker Douglas Kiplimo said the assembly resumed yesterday with the speaker’s panel taking charge of the assembly’s operations.

Pass budget

“The court cleared us of any wrong doing and has ordered the assembly to resume sessions pending determination of the speaker’s removal case. We have also invoked Article 178 of the Constitution which guarantees the assembly the power to elect another member in the absence of the speaker,“ said Mr Kiplimo.

The assembly will also have to pass the county budget before August as soon as the executive hands it over to the house.

In February, the assembly unanimously adopted an ad hoc committee report that recommended the removal of embattled speaker William Kamket.

Judge Stephen Radido ordered for Mr Kamket to be reinstated as the speaker until the case is heard and determined.

Justice Radido in his ruling said the county assembly is temporarily stopped from electing another speaker pending the hearing of this case and also another case against the speaker's sacking in Eldoret's High Court.

Governor Benjamin Cheboi during his address to the assembly occupied the speaker's seat, eliciting mixed reactions.