Confusion over parallel Nyamira County Assemblies holding separate sittings

The Senate Devolution Committee was left stunned after revelations that Nyamira County is operating with two parallel county assemblies — each holding sittings in separate chambers.

The committee heard that both factions have been independently writing to the Office of the Controller of Budget, seeking approval to withdraw public funds.

Embattled Speaker Enock Okero, who was impeached four months ago, gazetted four areas and termed them as Bunge Mashinani where they currently hold sittings since the main assembly is a no-go zone.

The ousted Speaker had challenged his impeachment in court, and the matter is active in court.

The other faction, on the other hand, holds parallel assembly sittings led by the Deputy Speaker and self-proclaimed Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro.

At one point, the session almost degenerated into a fist fight as Senators from the neighboring counties - Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira) and Richard Onyonka (Kisii) - engaged in a bitter exchange.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, who also appeared before the committee, told the session that her office has been receiving letters from the two Nyamira assemblies, and her office has been wondering which letter to process.

The two groups returned to Nyamira with no solution, each maintaining a hardline stance to hold their sessions in respective chambers during Wednesday sittings.