Supremacy battles have once again occurred at the Nairobi County Assembly threatening effective leadership and the prioritisation of key issues affecting the capital city.
The latest issue concerns the minority side, made up of members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which has split into two factions, both fighting for leadership roles.
On Tuesday, Speaker Ken Ng’ondi failed to effect changes to minority leadership, citing failure to follow procedures.
The changes were anticipated last week after UDA’s Internal Dispute Resolutions Committee (IDRC) upheld the ouster of current office holders at the Nairobi County Assembly.
Waithaka MCA Antony Kiragu (Minority leader) and Umoja One’s Mark Mugambi (Minority Whip) were to be replaced with South B MCA Waithera Chege and Nominated MCA Joyce Muthoni.
Kiragu and Mugambi had challenged their removal, alleging procedural irregularities and unfair treatment.
Ng’ondi told a plenary session on Tuesday that the provisions of the Constitution, the law and the Standing Orders were not complied with in the removal of the two leaders whose names were presented to him.
He added that neither evidence nor sufficient notice was given to them, stating the charges levelled against them.
“There was] no evidence that the leaders responded to the charges levelled against them or failed to respond to the charges preferred against them and there was no evidence that there was actual voting to warrant the removal,” he said.
According to the committee, however, the removal process was in line with party regulations and Standing Orders.
“The removal of the complainants from their respective leadership positions in the county assembly was procedural,” the committee chairperson, Rebecca Tonkei ruled.
However, Ng’ondi said that after analysing all documents presented to him, there was no evidence of an actual vote to resolve the removal of the leaders.
He also said the ruling UDA party communicated the changes through the deputy minority leader instead of the minority chief whip.
