November 14, 2024
Police, Protestors Clash Outside County Assembly Over Speaker's Removal

Police, Protestors Clash Outside County Assembly Over Speaker’s Removal

Tuesday, October 15, saw another outburst in the continuing political unrest in Nyamira as police officers clashed with a group of young people outside the county assembly.

The altercation started when protestors, some of whom were also brandishing buttons, were accosted by police with batons because they were purportedly against the return of beleaguered Assembly Speaker Enoch Okelo, who had been removed only a week prior.

Officers are seen fighting with the disobedient adolescents in the eyewitness tape.

While some of them were taken into custody, others persisted in resisting beyond the gates of the gathering. There have been no reports of injuries despite the mayhem.

Since the assembly’s internal conflict turned violent last week, authorities have remained heavily present on the property, a sign of growing discontent.

Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) were trading blows in the chambers during a heated session on Tuesday, October 8, when Speaker Enoch Okelo was forcibly removed from office. This episode is the source of the recent animosity.

Deeper power conflicts connected to the unsuccessful impeachment of Governor Amos Nyaribo weeks earlier were hinted at by the unrest that led to the suspension of House proceedings.

The dramatic scene was caught on bystander video as MCAs seized documents as they took Okelo out his office and headed for his car.

Okelo was accused of scheming to keep Governor Nyaribo from being removed, which led to his expulsion.

The disagreement has exposed the depth of internal strife within Nyamira’s administration, with political divisions growing following the governor’s barely avoided impeachment.

Governor Nyaribo survived the motion to remove him by a single vote, with 22 of the 34 MCAs supporting his removal, one short of the requisite number.

His narrow escape has fueled a deep schism in the parliament, with factions vying to settle scores and strengthen their positions.

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The political schism worsened when Okelo attempted to reinstate officials who had been fired for supporting Nyaribo, a move that many MCAs strongly opposed.

The disagreement is around efforts to reinstall former Majority Leader Mose and two County Assembly Service Board (CASB) members.

Their removal last month was linked to their support for the governor during the impeachment proceedings.

MCAs opposed to their restoration have been vociferous, charging constitutional infractions and abuse of office.

Police, Protestors Clash Outside County Assembly Over Speaker’s Removal

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