Chaos rock Mombasa County Assembly as Hassan Joho, Awiti factions clash over Speaker

A man who attempted to force his way to the public gallery is forcefully ejected from the assembly by county askaris after chaos erupted inside the Mombasa County Assembly as two warying groups fought over the assembly mace. (PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/ STANDARD)

One person was injured as clashes pitting Governor Hassan Joho’s allies and those of Nyali MP Hezron
Awiti rocked the county assembly. For the second day in a row, Members of the County Assembly fought over a disputed motion to impeach the Speaker Thadius Rajwayi.

MCAs allied to the besieged Speaker and those pushing for his ouster clashed as they scrambled for a wooden mace brought to the assembly to replace the one broken during Tuesday’s violence. But Governor Joho denied any involvement in the brawl and insisted that he was neutral.

One person was injured as Governor Hassan Joho's allies and those of  Nyali MP Hezron Awiti clashed in the county assembly. 

It was the second day of chaos over a disputed motion to impeach the Speaker.

The man was seriously injured as he was evicted by the orderlies from the Speaker's Walk.

Businessman Alfred Owako was shouting in support of the embattled Speaker, Thadius Rajwayi before the orderlies pounced on him.

The MCAs fought and sabotaged House business over claims of a fake mace.

Those allied to the besieged Speaker and those pushing for his ouster clashed as they scrambled for a wooden mace brought to the assembly to replace the one broken during Tuesday's violence. 

Mr Joho, through his political advisor Major (Rtd) Idriss Abdulrahman, however, denied any involvement in the brawl and insisted that he was neutral.

"The county is not party to the wrangles at the assembly. It is an internal affair among the MCAs," he said.

But Joho's fierce critic and an ally of Awiti, Kazandani MCA Mohammed Ndanda said the war in the assembly pitting the governor against Awiti, was political.

Joho's ally and the the Finance Committee Chairman Mohamed Hatimy said plans to oust the Speaker were informed by the alleged corruption under his watch.

Mr Owako was beaten as he blasted the county government over plans to oust the Speaker.

He was later frog-marched outside the premises by county government askaris.

"It is the top brass in the county government that is fighting Mr Rajwayi. We cannot allow one family to run the county government," Owako had protested.

The House business had been delayed for more than two hours because the mace was missing

Earlier, several journalists were roughed up and barred from covering the proceedings by officers from the Inspectorate who cited orders from above.

improvised mace

"Hon members, can you take your seats...make sure you continue entertaining yourselves," shouted the visibly angered Rajwayi from his seat as the MCAs, led by Mohamed Hatimy (nominated),  Murfad Amur (Mji wa Kale) and Saad Ahmed (Tononoka) insisted that the House had to be be adjourned.

"The law is very clear. The mace must have a seal. You cannot improvise a bed leg to replace the mace," said Mr Hatimy who claimed that the wooden plank used as a mace lowered the status of the assembly and had to be rejected.

"The House should be adjourned till further notice. We cannot continue with this bed leg acting as the mace. This is a joke," said Mr Amur.

Aisha Hussein (nominated) who is in the camp of those pushing for the Speaker's ouster sat on the chair next to the mace.

"This is the House that makes the law and must, therefore, abide by it," shouted Ms Hussein.

As tension peaked, Kongowea MCA Jabess Oduor, Mikindani's Duncan Onyango and Tom Ogallo (Timbwani) who had been relatively cool, moved to protect the mace.