UPDATE: Thursday, February 11, Baringo has become the first county to reject the BBI Referendum Bill 2020.
The Baringo County Assembly rejected the bill after a chaotic debate session that saw MCA engage in a physical fight.
Police lobbed teargas in the debating chamber immediately results of the close count were announced.
Chaos erupted at the Baringo County Assembly after a section of Jubilee and Kanu party MCAs fought over the BBI bill on Thursday, February 11.
The physical fight resulted from differences of opinion as the legislators debated the BBI Referendum Bill 2020 which is being considered by County Assemblies.
KANU members supported the passing of the bill while Jubilee members affiliated with Deputy President William Ruto rejected it.
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the party members are seen holding each other's necks while others were heard hurling insults.
Gideon Moi, KANU party leader has been pushing for the bill to be passed while Ruto has been critical of its proposals, although he has not explicitly announced his opposition.
Jubilee party members whose loyalty lies with the DP, however, have been opposing the bill despite the fact that the party leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta, has championed the project.
Tuju had on Wednesday, February 11 invited Jubilee MCAs from Baringo County to brief them on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Although the meeting was meant to be confidential, with members screened and restricted from carrying recording devices, one of the leaders present was still able to sneak in with one.
According to the leaked footage, an MCA was heard telling off Tuju over the internal wrangles affecting the party and the perceived exclusion of some leaders.
“When did you sit and discuss the party position? Did you call the Deputy President or the Deputy Secretary-General? Your message is similar to the one which Senator Gideon Moi sent to us on WhatsApp, which seems as though you are taking instructions from an external source,” the politicians ranted as Tuju gestured to him to go on and whispered “fungua roho (speak openly)”.
The clash between the two factions comes at a time when three counties have already passed the bill.
Siaya County became the first county to pass the bill followed by Kisumu County and then Homabay County.
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