This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Meru County Assembly members engaged in a heated fistfight over the swearing-in of a female colleague, Secondina Kanini.
The dispute arose when some members attempted to grab the Mace to stop proceedings, leading to a physical confrontation.
Speaker Joseph Kaberia was met with a hostile welcome, with water bottles hurled at him when he entered the Assembly.
Some members described Kanini as a project fronted by the county's executive arm, sparking further tensions.
"We will not allow a person to be imposed on the house by the executive. We want to stamp our authority. I am a member of the House Business Committee and administration of oath was not approved," MCA Jadiel Mauta protested.
However, the speaker explained that he was simply adhering to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which had gazetted the nominated MCA.
Esther Karimi, another MCA, vowed to deal with the speaker if he did not listen to their protests, stating, "We feel that the Speaker is in bed with the executive. He should listen to us because we elected him," she told Nation.
