Nyamira: A County of parallel county assemblies

By Newsflash Correspondent

Nyamira County has become the stage for a political standoff that borders on the absurd, with two separate county assemblies operating concurrently.

This bizarre situation—where each faction has its own Speaker and Clerk—has unsettled residents, drawn in national attention, and prompted concern from the Senate.

The root of the chaos can be traced to a failed attempt in 2023 to impeach Governor Amos Nyaribo. The motion was led by 22 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs)—just one vote short of the required 23 needed for a successful impeachment. The attempt split the Assembly, with Nyaribo’s opponents accusing Speaker Enock Okero of supporting the governor and obstructing the process.

Following the fallout, two rival groups have emerged. Each group holds its own sittings in different venues, leading to confusion and institutional paralysis. The pro-impeachment MCAs, allied with West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka and former MP Ben Momanyi, have continued to push for Okero’s ouster and oppose Nyaribo’s leadership. On the other hand, Nyaribo’s side maintains that the Speaker’s removal was unlawful and continues to recognize Okero as the legitimate holder of the office—an assertion backed by court orders.

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Nyaribo, addressing the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, warned that the persistent standoff may push him to request President William Ruto to appoint a special committee to run the county or even dissolve it altogether. He blamed Senator Okong’o Omogeni and some MCAs for worsening the crisis, despite his own attempts to unite the opposing sides.

Okero told the Senate that his troubles began with the impeachment vote and escalated after he was forcibly ejected from the Assembly chambers in October 2023. He later returned to office following a High Court order that declared his removal unconstitutional and reinstated him.

Tensions have only grown since then. Okero now conducts business from Nyamira Town’s official assembly precincts, while his rival faction, backed by MCA Thaddaeus Nyabaro, convenes in a different location. Nyabaro was controversially elected as Speaker in Okero’s place, a move the courts have dismissed as illegal.

Nyabaro has stood his ground, arguing that Okero’s reinstatement was flawed and that the rival faction’s actions are justified. However, Nyaribo has dismissed this narrative, calling their operations illegitimate and asserting that official county business can only take place within designated premises.

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The Senate has reacted with concern. Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko criticized the ongoing drama, saying it denies the public essential services and urged Nyamira leaders to find a peaceful solution. Senator Omogeni, meanwhile, condemned the current state of affairs, calling on all sides to uphold the rule of law and put the interests of residents first.

As the standoff continues, Nyamira remains gripped by uncertainty, with its governance system split down the middle.