Tensions flared in Nyamira on Tuesday, October 15, as police officers clash with a group of youths outside the county assembly, marking yet another eruption in the ongoing political turmoil.
The confrontation broke out when police, armed with batons, confronted protesters, some of whom were carrying batons as well, allegedly opposing the return of embattled Assembly Speaker Enoch Okelo, who was ousted just a week ago.
Eyewitness footage shows officers grappling with the defiant youths, as several were arrested while others continued to resist outside the assembly’s gates. Despite the chaos, no injuries have been reported.
Authorities have maintained a strong presence at the premises, an indication of escalating unrest since the assembly’s internal strife turned physical last week.
The recent tension is rooted in a Tuesday, October 8 incident where Speaker Enoch Okelo was forcefully removed from office amid a heated session that saw Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) trading punches in the chambers.
The unrest prompted the suspension of House proceedings, signalling deeper power struggles linked to the failed impeachment of Governor Amos Nyaribo weeks earlier.
Bystander footage captured the dramatic moment as MCAs escorted Okelo out of his office and towards his car, confiscating documents in the process. The ouster followed allegations of corruption against Okelo, who was accused of protecting Governor Nyaribo from removal.
The dispute has laid bare the extent of infighting within Nyamira’s leadership, with political rifts deepening in the aftermath of the governor’s narrowly averted impeachment.
Governor Nyaribo survived the motion to remove him by a single vote, with 22 of the 34 MCAs supporting his ouster—one short of the required threshold. His close escape has fuelled a bitter divide in the assembly, with factions seeking to settle scores and solidify their positions.
The political discord intensified as Okelo moved to reinstate officials previously sacked for supporting Nyaribo, a move fiercely opposed by many MCAs.
The conflict revolves around efforts to reinstate former Majority Leader Mose and two County Assembly Service Board (CASB) members. Their dismissal last month was linked to their backing of the governor during the impeachment saga.
The MCAs opposed to their reinstatement have been vocal, citing allegations of constitutional violations and misuse of office.
