Dewhipped Embu Opposition MCAs Storm Out of Assembly Sitting

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

MCAs allied to the minority side stormed out of the House after Speaker Josiah Thiriku allowed the debate on the motion to proceed, ostensibly without a meeting by the Selection Committee having been procedurally scheduled.

The Speaker had earlier threatened to declare opposition Ward Reps unruly and throw them out of the August House, sparking outrage that briefly interrupted the Wednesday morning plenary sitting. The debate later proceeded acrimoniously in unsavory language.

The opposing members opined that the report had been manufactured in a secret location to de-whip perceived government adversaries. They dismissed it in total as an illegality that should never have been tabled on the floor of the assembly.

Minority Leader Ngari Mbaka who is also the MCA for Mavuria Ward led  MCAs Lenny Masters (Kiambere), Sammy Tito (Nthawa), Phillip Nzangi (Makima) and Nominated MCA Yvonne Mati in storming out of the Assembly in protest to the Speakers directive allowing Majority Leader Peter Murithi (Mbeti North) to move the Motion. On the other hand, Mbeti South MCA Murithi Kiura was ejected from the Assembly Chambers for indecent dressing.

Speaker Thiriku however stated that nothing was amiss, noting that the report was signed by four out of eight Selection Committee members. He disclosed that some reports debated at the Assembly only bore the signature of the chairperson but were still deliberated upon.

The minority MCAs addressing press outside assembly chambers said that the leader of minority cannot move a motion when the members of selection committee had not agreed.

Mbaka said that it was unfortunate that the leaders of majority Peter Muriithi was going against the  house standing orders that that there was an hidden motive on the changes .

Makima ward MCA Philip Nzangi alleged that the Executive was meddling with affairs of the County Assembly and that the decision to reconstitute committees was rushed to satisfy certain quarters.

Kiambere ward MCA Lenny Masters said the changes were made to punish the opposition MCAs who are not allied to Embu governor Cecily Mbarire.

The government backed faction passed the motion ratifying the report without opposition.