Drama in Kiambu County Assembly as MCAs exchange blows

Members of Kiambu County Assembly fighting inside the chambers. [Kamau Maichuihe/Standard]

Kiambu County assembly chambers was turned into a wrestling arena after Members of County Assembly (MCAs) fought each other on the floor of the House on Wednesday.

Hell broke loose after Kiuu MCA Daniel Ngugi the chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Finance tabled the supplementary budget bill in readiness for debate by members.

A group of MCAs led by the immediate former chairman of Finance Budget and Appropriation committee Karuga Ngugi ousted from the position protested that the right procedure had not been followed to introduce the bill before the assembly.

They accused speaker Stephen Ndichu of bias and not following the Standing Orders in how the supplementary budget was brought to the House.

A pandemonium ensued in the assembly which later turned in to a war zone for more than 20 minutes as MCAs from opposing camps exchanged blows.

Bottles of water were  thrown across the assembly floor and water poured on the seats.  

The speaker, Majority leader Antony Ikonya and female MCAs looked on in shock as their colleagues tore at each other ruthlessly.

It took the intervention of administration police who normally guard the assembly to restore sanity in the chambers. When calm was restored, the speaker adjourned the session and sneaked out of the chambers using the back door.

The assembly has been split down the middle with one group supporting the passage of the supplementary budget and the other opposing it.

One group is led by the immediate former chairman of Finance committee who was ousted on Tuesday and the other is being led by the majority leader.

The adhoc committee was formed last Tuesday in another chaotic sitting where the Finance Budget and Appropriation committee was split in to Finance and Economic Planning and Budget and Appropriation Committee

Mr Ngige said there was no notice of motion to introduce the bill in to the assembly as the standing orders stipulates.

“The standing orders stipulate that the bill ought to be discussed 24 hours after being introduced in the assembly. Today we have witnessed the law is being flaunted a thing we will not agree,” said Mr Ngugi.

Outside the assembly, ward reps from the two camps exchanged unprintable words as they accused each other of being behind the woes witnessed.

Those supporting the passage of supplementary budget vowed to do all it takes to ensure it sails through while those opposed swore to ensure it flops.

Ndenderu MCA Solomon Kinuthia accused deputy speaker Philip Mubea of hitting him during the disarray.