Sittings at the Nandi County Assembly have been suspended indefinitely after a fracas erupted on Thursday when Members of the County Assembly violently disagreed over adoption of an Ad Hoc committee report which faulted the way the Nandi County Government utilised funds on public projects.
A Press release signed by the Assembly Speaker, Philemon Melly blamed chaos that resulted in destruction property and physical injury of some MCAs and staff on the events of November13,2024.
While pushing for investigations into the status of projects across the County for the Financial Year 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, MCAs resolved to form an ad hoc committee to audit projects by summoning County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers and departmental Directors.
“In exercise of powers bestowed on me under Standing Order 111(1) and the prevailing situation, the Nandi County Assembly was in at the time, I had to adjourn the House,” Speaker Melly said in the statement.
He regretted that the brawling by MCAs that happened contravenes Chapter Six of the Constitution, the County Assemblies Powers and Privileges Act and the Nandi County Assembly Standing Orders.
“The Nandi County Assembly hence stands adjourned sine die. The date of resumption will be communicated,” part of the release read.
Melly promised investigations into the mayhem and chaos with a view of ‘taking appropriate action against anyone who will be found culpable.’
He however called on the MCAs to lead by example and exercise restraint while exercising their constitutional mandate.
Drama ensued when members who supported the motion disrupted the voting process when they sensed defeat.
House Speaker Philemon Melly was whisked away from the Chambers seat as members who supported the motion and those opposed got embroiled in a fight and bitter exchange of words.
In a House of 44 MCAs, the supporters of the motion had garnered eleven against twenty votes by those who opposed in one of the most contested voting decisions at the Nandi Assembly.
Had the motion been adopted, nine County Executive Committee Members, nine Chief Officers and three Directors would have lost their jobs for alleged financial misappropriation in their departments.
The Ad Hoc committee to investigate status of Nandi County projects that was chaired by Kapsabet Town MCA Benjamin Matata told the Press after the aborted vote that Nandi County lost an opportunity to turnaround the existing mess on projects funding and desired results.
Matata claimed some MCAs were compromised to shoot down the motion which had offered the best opportunity for the Assembly to streamline glaring financial mismanagement in the county.
A section of residents and local leaders have blamed the MCAs who voted to disown the Ad Hoc Committee report claiming they have lost confidence with the electorate.
– By Geoffrey Satia, KNA
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