Divisions have hit the Wajir County Assembly after members fought during the first session, signifying a return of rows that dominated the last House.
Some United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ward reps from Wajir South constituency protested in the chambers on Wednesday, disrupting activities.
The agitated MCAs, who were unhappy about the selection of House leaders, stood on tables and started banging them. Others threw chairs at their colleagues. This happened as the Speaker announced assembly positions.
“He used his own process and individuals advising him to favour a clan and to make a coalition to favour a clan. Anything that will happen from here onwards is upon the Speaker and the clerk,” one MCA said.
The MCAs from Wajir South claimed a whole region had been sidelined in the selection of House leaders.
“The Speaker and the clerk have conspired with the members of UDM [United Democratic Movement] and Maendeleo Chap Chap and the Justice and Freedom Party of Kenya, which does not belong to any coalition,” said Habbaswein MCA Ahmed Hajji Diis.
They vowed to seek legal redress to block the new leaders from taking their positions until a case in the Mombasa High Court is determined.
In that case, UDM and Maendeleo Chap Chap have challenged their membership in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.
Eight members of the House Business Committee were approved, as were 13 members of the Selection Committee.
The chaos in the assembly recalled the differences that hit the previous House, a majority of whose members were defeated in the August polls.
