Showdown looms as rival Nyamira Assembly camps meet

A showdown is expected Tuesday at the Nyamira County Assembly as two rival factions prepare to meet for the first time in six months to deliberate on a Senate report.

Both factions claim to be the legitimate leadership of the Assembly, with each having assumed the authority to call the House to order as it reconvenes from a five-week recess.

The Assembly has been functioning under parallel leadership—one led by former Ekerenyo Member of County Assembly (MCA) Thadeus Ndubi and the other by Speaker Enock Ogori Okero.

The faction allied to Nyabaro has enjoyed the support of a majority of MCAs and had previously barred Okero from accessing the Assembly premises, despite a court order reinstating him. The MCAs suspended and later impeached Okero, but the High Court in Nyamira ruled that they had disobeyed an earlier court directive barring his removal.

Although cited for contempt, the MCAs later sought and were granted forgiveness by the same court. However, they proceeded to elect Nyabaro as Speaker, escalating the leadership crisis.

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In response, Okero mobilised a group of MCAs and launched the Bunge Mashinani sessions, a devolved parliament initiative that has been meeting in designated sub-county venues since November 2024.

Since then, the two factions have operated in parallel, with the Okero-led team overseeing major legislative functions, including approval of the County Integrated Development Plan and processing of finance bills and budgets.

A month after the Senate deliberated on the matter in the National Assembly, the situation appears to have worsened, with both sides refusing to yield ground on legitimacy.

The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has since submitted a report with several recommendations, including ending Bunge Mashinani sessions and resuming House business at the official County Assembly chambers.

Yet both factions have adopted hardline positions, complicating any prospect of dialogue. Nyabaro’s team has made sweeping changes that cement its position and hinder compromise. They have reconstituted the County Assembly Service Board, replacing two MCAs and two non-executive members. In addition, they have installed a new Deputy Speaker, James Matinga, along with other leadership changes.

Conversely, Okero’s faction has maintained Magwagwa Ward MCA Abel Mose as Deputy Speaker and Rigoma MCA as Majority Leader.

Despite political setbacks, Okero’s camp currently controls the Assembly’s financial operations and signatory powers, which lie with Acting Clerk Silvanus Nyamora, following a protracted legal and administrative battle.

Tensions are likely to escalate further during today’s reopening, with Nyabaro insisting—up to Monday—that he remains the lawful Speaker of the Assembly.

Nyabaro was recently left speechless in the Senate when asked to confirm whether he had resigned as an MCA. He also had a heated confrontation with Itibo MCA Lameck Nyakianga at a funeral in North Mugirango after acknowledging Okero as Speaker during his condolence speech.

Last week, the Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Charles Bosire Angwenyi, was quoted on social media warning Speaker Okero not to enter the main chambers. “I welcome all other MCAs to the Assembly’s main chambers, but I will not allow in the impeached Speaker Okero,” Angwenyi declared.

Majority Leader Nyambega said yesterday that there was no truce to the ongoing standoff, but asserted that all House business would be conducted from the official Assembly chambers. “There have been no negotiations between the factions, but we shall proceed with business from the main chambers,” Nyambega stated.

Okero, for his part, confirmed that he intends to preside over business from the Nyamira Assembly chambers, but insisted that Bunge Mashinani remains a lawful platform.

Governor Amos Nyaribo urged the MCAs to uphold the rule of law and work together for the good of the county.

“The issues the MCAs have been grappling with have been competently handled by the courts. Let them respect the rule of law and collaborate in service to the people,” the governor stated.

All eyes are now on the Senate’s next move, particularly after the Joint Legal Affairs Committee tables its final report in the House.