On Thursday, March 14, a scuffle broke out inside the Kakamega County Assembly after a section of the Members of the County Assembly affiliated with the Orange Democratic (ODM) party clashed over the in-house party leadership.
The physical altercation ensued after a section of ODM MCAs attempted to effect the house party leadership changes. Their decision was met with strong opposition by their fellow ODM MCA counterparts.
Minutes after an opening prayer to kick off the session, the scrimmage ensued, forcing the County Assembly speaker James Namatsi to flee for his life.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna announced changes to the party leadership recently. In the proclamation, he appointed Geoffrey Ondiro as the house majority leader.
“We want the speaker of the county assembly of Kakamega to read the county assembly laws and know that party leadership inside the house is a party issue,” lamented an MCA.
“If this issue is not addressed immediately, then it will interfere with our duties as house members,” noted another MCA.
A few days ago Sifuna wrote a letter to the assembly speaker concerning changes to the role of majority leader.
In his letter, the ODM party revoked the appointment of Philip Maina Ondago as the majority leader and replaced him with Geofrey Ondiro Obonyo.
However, the changes triggered outrage from a section of the members of the County Assembly who dismissed the move terming it malicious.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa on Tuesday this week argued that the changes were made without his knowledge despite serving as the ODM's Kakamega County chairperson.
"The communication to the Speaker was not accompanied by any document such as minutes of the meeting in which the purported resolution was made," Barasa lamented.
"I have urged the Speaker to ignore the directive until such a time when it will be clear to the County Leadership that a decision of such magnitude is reached after fulfilling due processes, including necessary consultations," he added.
