Vihiga Assembly in Turmoil as MCAs Reportedly ‘Defect’ to Kenya Kwanza
The Vihiga County Assembly is divided over who should be the majority and minority.
The confusion arose after some MCAs from the Azimio coalition crossed the floor to join the Kenya Kwanza side, which was the minority in the house.
Kenya Kwanza declared itself the majority during Tuesday’s sitting after receiving support from a few Azimio MCA.
Minority leader Vincent Atsiaya proposed a motion to speaker Chris Omulele to declare Kenya Kwanza the majority in the house.
“The Kenya Kwanza coalition has achieved its majority of 23 against the 36 in the house, meaning that Azimio only commands 13,” Atsiaya said.
“The members we have right now as Kenya Kwanza are over 23 out of 36 making us the majority coalition.”
Omulele, on the other hand, chose to play it safe, requesting more time to communicate next month.
Atsiaya, who was elected on the ANC ticket, stated that Kenya Kwanza wanted to be declared the majority following a recent decision by a group of Azimio la Umoja MCAs to collaborate with the coalition.
However, the Azimio coalition maintains that it is still the majority, and Kenya Kwanza has no legal grounds to demand any changes.
Majority leader Karega Mboku laughed off Kenya Kwanza leadership’s attempt to carry out an illegal takeover.
Mboku stated that ODM was the majority party and would not give up their position.
“The minority ANC party has only 11 members and there is no way to force the speaker to declare them as the majority, ” Mboku said.
Collins Ayugu of Banja, elected on the Orange Democratic Movement party ticket in the 2022 general election, is one of the MCAs who has switched allegiances.
Ayugu announced his decision to work with the minority side a week ago, and his actions prompted several of his colleagues to follow suit.
“Kenya Kwanza is the majority coalition and we have the numbers. We urge the speaker to declare us the majority,” Ayugu said.
He is currently facing disciplinary action from his ODM party after being summoned to explain his decision to work with Kenya’s Kwanza government.
“I am being victimised by Azimio la Umoja for working with President William Ruto and I am being intimidated by my party ODM,” Ayugu said.
Other lawmakers who have stated their intention to work with the Kenya Kwanza coalition include David Onjiri (Luanda Township) of the DAP-K party and Richard Muhiga (Shamakhokho) of the United Democratic Party.
MCAs Nkuruma Avudiku (Izava Lwaduywa), Franklin Gidali (West Sabatia), and Boniface Shanga (Muhudu), all elected as independents, have also shifted their allegiance to Kenya Kwanza.
“I have decided to work with like-minded people and they are Kenya Kwanza,” Onjiri said.
He and the other insist they have not abandoned their parties, but have simply changed their allegiances to support Kenya Kwanza.
“I want this to be clear to my Luanda Township electorate. I have not ditched DAP-K or Azimio. What I want is to work with Kenya Kwanza in the assembly, ” Onjiri said.
Muhiga claimed that they had been mistreated by Azimio la Umoja and couldn’t take it any longer.
“We thank Azimio for what they have done but we are tired and we have decided to work with Kenya Kwanza that has mature leadership and sober minds,” Muhiga said.
The Kenya Kwanza leadership now wants all government business in the house addressed by minority leader Atsiaya.
Governor Wilber Ottichilo had difficulty conducting business in the house due to wrangles.
The ODM governor has had relatively smooth sailing since the 2022 election, when his Azimio coalition won the majority.
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Vihiga Assembly in Turmoil as MCAs Reportedly ‘Defect’ to Kenya Kwanza
