Nandi County Assembly has suspended all its operations
indefinitely.
Clerk of the assembly Barnaba Kosgei notified MCAs that the
move was occasioned by events which took place on Tuesday night when the ward
representatives engaged in a violent fight causing damage to property within
the assembly
“The county assembly has been adjourned sine die as per
provisions of standing orders 1 and 111(1),” said Kosgei in a notice to the
MCAs and staff.
He said the resumption of operations would be communicated
in due course as damages and the general situation is assessed and addressed.
“During that period the staff through the respective HoDs
will be communicated to on attendance of other duties,” said Kosgei’s notice.
He called upon all MCAs and staff to exercise calm.
Fighting broke out among the MCAs at the assembly after the
ward representatives differed while voting on an ad-hoc committee report that
had recommended the sacking of all county executive members in the region over
allegations of corruption and incompetence.
MCAs exchanged blows and kicks and also damaged property in
the assembly during the voting on Wednesday night after day day-long debate at
the assembly that had also been surrounded by members of the public causing
heavy deployment of anti-riot police.
Twenty MCAs had voted to reject the report while another 11
had supported it but before the exercise was completed one MCA attempted to
grab the mace and ran away sparking a vicious fight during which the MCAs boxed
each other and threw all kinds of available items at each other.
Efforts by security officers and speaker Cheruiyot Melly to
control the situation fell on deaf ears as the MCAs banged tables and s˙outed
loudly at each other before the situation generated into a chaotic fight.
The ad-hoc committee that was chaired by Kapsabet MCA Benjamin Matata had made far-reaching
recommendations following its investigation into the allegations of graft and incompetence.
Following the stand-off the voting exercise was suspended
indefinitely.
“I will give a ruling on the way forward,”said Cheruiyot.
The committee was formed to investigate the county
executives for possible gross violations of the constitution and applicable
laws in the execution of its mandate.
Matata said although the report had been rejected by MCAs
its, findings were in public domain and would be the basis of further action.
“Residents of Nandi are now well informed and the future will
prove us right,” said Matata.
MCAs who had opposed the report led by Julius Bett of
Tinderet said the report was politically instigated to cripple the county and
they would not allow external interference in county operations
MCAs in the adhoc committee team had also recommended EACC
investigations and life style audits against most of the officers.
“In light of the findings contained in the report against
each of the county executive committee members and taking into account the
grounds and particulars stated against each of the executives, the committee
recommends that Governor Sang dismisses the listed executives from office,”
said part of the recommendations.
Three county directors had also been recommended for
suspension and MCAs also wanted the county public service board disbanded with
immediate effect.
Three directors were recommended for a lifestyle audit by
the EACC.
Further action that had recommended against the board
included that governor Sang should revoke the appointment of the public service
board acting CEO Nancy Jeruto and that the county boss should initiate removal
from office of board members Elisha Arusei, Ezekiel Chemwor, Irene Choge and
Daniel Mwogoi.
Members of the committee had also recommended investigations
against the executives over allegations of failing to account of millions of
shillings for projects in the county.
However in a surprise move even some members of the adhoc committee
turned against it and voted to reject their own report.
