Drama as Homa Bay MCAs Pushing for Removal of Majority Leader are Barred from Accessing Assembly

• Four members of the Homa Bay County Assembly were on Tuesday, June 10, dramatically blocked from accessing the facility
• The four are alleged to have been behind a plot to remove from office the assembly’s leader of the majority, Richard Ogindo
• Ogindo, however, dismissed claims that he was facing ouster and instead blamed bloggers for spreading propaganda
• The Homa Bay County Assembly speaker also confirmed that no petition had been made before him for Ogindo's removal

There was drama outside the Homa Bay County Assembly gate when a section of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) was blocked from accessing the buildings.

The affected MCAs are alleged to have been denied access to the assembly over their alleged push for the removal of the assembly's majority leader, Richard Ogindo.

MCAs blocked from accessing Homa Bay County Assembly

Among those barred from entering the assembly were Kendu Bay’s Tom Adinda, Jeff Ongoro (Kanyaluo), and nominated MCAs Yvonne Becky and Erick Owidi.

There was a 20-minute stand-off at the gate as the ward representatives demanded to be let in. Their attempt to force their way in, however, proved futile as officers manning the gate had locked it from inside.

Reacting to reports that some MCAs wanted him out of the influential position, the Kwabwai ward representative claimed they were being peddled by bloggers.

He also downplayed the incident, insisting that operations at the county assembly were going on as usual.

The MCA also noted that he still enjoys the support of the majority of the members.

"I want to assure the public that the Homa Bay county assembly is peaceful and our activities are running as usual. With me here are 43 members out of 54 total members who are supporting me as the majority leader, including the speaker of the assembly, the deputy speaker, the deputy majority leader, and all the members of the speaker's panel," Ogindo noted.

Are Homa Bay MCAs planning to oust majority leader?

On his part, Homa Bay County Assembly Speaker Polycarp Okombo said he had not received any letter seeking the removal of the leader of the majority.

“What we are hearing are just rumours from social media. I must confirm here officially that I've not received any petition in my office intending to remove from office the majority leader," Okombo clarified.

The speaker further claimed the MCAs behind the incident are those who were manipulating the governor in the previous regime.

Machakos MCAs injured in scuffle

Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported about a fight that broke out at the Machakos County Assembly after two groups of MCAs clashed over a bid to impeach the speaker.

The incident reportedly happened as the MCAs were in a boardroom meeting to plan for the assembly's activities after recess.

MCAs from two opposing sides engaged in a confrontation that quickly turned violent. Three MCAs were injured in the incident. The MCAs pushing for Speaker Ann Kiusya's removal from office accused her of misappropriation of county assembly funds and incompetence.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke