The leadership wrangles in the Nyamira county assembly seem far from over after the Senate panel seeking to reconcile the parties failed to strike a truce.
Instead, the Senate committee that has been seeking to strike a truce between factions has sought more time to conclude its investigations – and a possible reconciliation.
In a report tabled in the chamber, the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee has pleaded with the factions to cease the wrangles, even as it plans yet another round of mediation.
The committee is chaired by Wajir Senator Sheikh Abass.
“The committee recommends that pending the determination of the court cases, the county assembly resumes its normal operations in accordance with the Constitution, the County Governments Act and the Standing Orders of the Nyamira county assembly,” the report says.
The vicious leadership wrangles have split the county assembly into two factions, with each having its own speaker, clerk and staff.
The county has two assemblies, one sitting at the gazetted county assembly precincts and another sitting at a gazetted ward office.
“There are two factions that consist of separate leadership structures (including speakers, clerks and assembly service boards), leading to confusion, legal uncertainty and an inability of the county assembly to effectively fulfil its constitutional duties,” the report states.
In addition, the assembly faces operational challenges owing to ongoing parallel county assembly sittings held by two factions, each claiming legitimacy.
One faction is holding its sittings in gazetted wards, and the other holding its sittings within the county assembly chamber.
“The contestation of the office of the speaker has the dire consequence of affecting all other county assembly service structures, therefore, making it imperative for the legitimate speaker to be ascertained,” the report states.
The committee said the assembly faces several issues that affect its operation and running.
They are related to and connected with the dispute concerning the legitimate holder of the office of the speaker, the office of the clerk and the offices of the county assembly service board.
“The committee, therefore, requests more time to further investigate these matters and other emerging issues that affect the effective governance of the county assembly,” the committee said.
The team has scheduled a visit to the county.
Two weeks ago, the committee heard that embattled speaker Enock Okero, who was impeached four months ago, gazetted four areas and termed them as Bunge Mashinani where they currently hold sittings since the main assembly is a no-go zone.
The ousted speaker had challenged his impeachment in court and the matter is active in court.
The other faction, holds parallel assembly sittings led by deputy speaker and self-proclaimed speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro.
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, who also appeared before the committee, told the session her office has been receiving letters from the two Nyamira assemblies, and her office has been wondering which letter to process.
The two groups returned to Nyamira with no solution, each maintaining a hardline stance to hold their sessions in respective chambers.
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