A group of youth in Siaya on Tuesday held Members of the County Assembly hostage, forcing them to stay inside the Chambers for almost an hour.
The youth seem to have been angered after the ward representatives rejected nine nominees to the County Executive positions after appointment by Governor Cornel Rasanga.
The Sergeant-at-arms resorted to firing in the air to disperse the group after they broke windows and began hurling stones.
The Assembly adjourned at 8 pm but the youth made it clear that they would not allow the ward representatives to leave unless they passed the names of the rejected candidates.
An earlier attempt to kick off the debate at 2 pm had failed miserably as the rowdy group chanted "We are watching you!"
[caption caption="A past session of the Siaya County Assembly"]
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Among the appointees, only Mary Apondi was approved to take over as Education CEC in Rasanga's cabinet.
Usonga MCA Sylvester Madialo defended the ward reps, stating that the committee rejected the nominees because they did not fit the portfolios they were supposed to take over.
"This means that the Governor is at liberty to realign his nominees as per their qualifications," Madialo stated.
Governor Rasanga had asked all County Executives to re-apply for their positions after his re-election.
He noted that the officials were on five-year contracts and therefore it would be illegal to retain them without fresh applications.
[caption caption="Governer Cornell Rasanga with Siaya County Speaker George Okode"]
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Governor Rasanga had earlier dismissed rumors that he intended to fire employees who did not support him, declaring at a past forum: "No hardworking employee will be victimised as I am geared to deliver my best in my last five years in office."
