Senators order the reopening of ‘paralysed’ Machakos assembly

The Senate has ordered the immediate reopening of the Machakos county assembly, which has been inactive since April 8 after internal wrangles led to its indefinite suspension.

The Devolution Committee directed the speaker and MCAs to resume all legislative business, including plenary and committee sessions, within seven days.

Back in April, a heated confrontation erupted at the assembly during a House Business Committee meeting, where members clashed over the legislative agenda.

The chaos prompted speaker Anne Kiusya to suspend all operations, citing security concerns.

However, appearing before the Senate committee, majority leader Nicholas Nzioka accused the speaker of abusing her powers and violating constitutional principles.

He argued that the suspension was not only unconstitutional and procedurally flawed but had also seriously impaired governance, delayed the budget process and hindered service delivery.

“The speaker’s suspension of the county assembly lacked legal foundation and usurped the assembly’s legislative mandate,” Nzioka said.

He further claimed the speaker improperly invoked a decision by the County Assembly Service Board to justify the shutdown, despite CASB lacking the mandate to suspend sittings or alter the assembly’s calendar.

“The CASB cannot determine House business or suspend legislative operations,” he added.

“The speaker’s action was an abuse of office and a breach of the separation of powers.”

In her defence, speaker Anne Kiusya maintained the decision to suspend assembly sittings was made in consultation with the clerk, and was based on genuine security threats to members and staff.

“The suspension was not unilateral. It was a necessary response to the risk of injury, chaos, verbal attacks and general lawlessness,” she said.

She added that the suspension had already been lifted and that plenary and committee sessions would resume, allowing the assembly to proceed with pending processes, including budget-making.

To address security concerns, Kiusya said several measures had been taken, including.

These include increasing the height of the perimeter wall, installing an electric fence and razor wire, and tightening access control to assembly premises.

When pressed by Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa on the absence of Hansard records during the HBC meeting, the speaker responded that some assembly officials, including Hansard and security personnel, were not allowed into the meeting room at the time.

After hearing from both sides, the Senate Committee issued a stern warning against physical altercations among MCAs, terming such conduct a violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

“MCAs must operate within the law and refrain from physical confrontations,” the committee resolved.

“The assembly must reconvene immediately through a special sitting to address pending legislative business.”

Further complicating matters, MCAs accused the Finance executive of withholding funds from the assembly, allegedly due to an irregular composition of CASB. The Senate committee dismissed the justification.

“The withholding of funds is unjustified and unlawful. The Finance executive must release the funds to the assembly without further delay,” committee chair Senator Mohammed Abbas said.“The CASB has no authority to determine the calendar or legislative agenda of the Assembly.”

The Senate’s intervention is expected to stabilise the political environment in Machakos and allow the assembly to resume its oversight and legislative functions without further disruption.