Fists fly as Kisumu MCAs replace Oloo
Kisumu County Assembly is once again locked in a leadership tussle after some MCAs swore in Kisumu North Ward representative Elisha Oraro as Speaker.
The MCAs said they were following a directive from the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) to replace embattled Speaker Onyango Oloo, who is facing graft allegations.
Yesterday, Oloo termed the move illegal and vowed to resume his duties as the Speaker on Thursday.
“As far as I know, I am the Speaker of Kisumu and the exercise that was conducted was illegal and by law, it holds no value,” he said.
Chaos genesis
Trouble started when Deputy Speaker Roy Samo ordered the Clerk to read the Order Paper.
However, Nyalenda B MCA Seth Orlale attempted to eject Samo from the seat saying he was not eligible to conduct the proceedings of the House. The two engaged in a fist fight as other members joined in.
Samo together with the clerks and a section of MCAs allied to Oloo were forced to scamper for safety as the angry colleagues bayed for their blood.
The MCAS, led by Kanga had resolved to elect Oraro as acting Speaker following the graft allegations facing Oloo.
Oloo, who presented himself at the DCI offices in Mombasa on Saturday was released on Monday on a Sh10 million bond.
The Speaker is enjoined in the multi-billion-shilling Lake Basin Development Authority mall scandal where he and 30 others have been accused of inflating the construction costs.
On Monday night, the MCAs attended an urgent meeting convened by the county party officials where it was resolved that he should step aside to wait for the outcome of the case.
Yesterday, 29 MCAS presented a petition to the clerk to elect an acting speaker.
Earlier, there was tension at the Assembly as a contingent of police officers was deployed to man the premises.
MCAs allied to Oloo, however, argued there was no vacuum to warrant election of an acting office bearer.
Minority leader Philemon Ojuok accused ODM of single-handedly imposing leadership on the Assembly. - Baraka Karama and Noven Owiti
