Leadership disputes in the Nyamira County Assembly intensified yesterday as rival factions held parallel sittings.

Speaker Enock Gori Okero’s “Bunge Mashinani” faction met at the Rigoma MCA’s ward office in Keroka, while Thadeaus Nyabaro’s group gathered at the assembly premises.

The Nyabaro camp suffered a setback when several MCAs defected to join Okero’s group. Despite Monday’s agreement to conduct business together at the Assembly after a five-week break, Nyabaro’s supporters allegedly hired armed individuals to block Okero’s faction from accessing the building.

Videos showed these individuals drinking alcohol on assembly premises while making threats against Okero’s group. The Okero faction avoided the assembly, citing safety concerns.

“How do you expect us to go to a place where there are hired drunk goons whose mission was to kill us, particularly the legitimate Speaker, Mr Enock Okero,” said Majority Leader Nyambega Gisesa.

‘Fanning violence’

Gisesa accused West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka and Nyamira Senator Okongo Mogeni of “fanning and fuelling violence among the MCAs because of their political ambitions”.  He criticised security forces for inaction, asking, “How can the police officers watch and keep mum when it has been reported to them that there were some hired goons in the assembly with deadly weapons?”

Alfayo Ngeresa of Mekenene ward posed: “How can the county sssembly offices be turned into a bar and a war zone when security offices are watching and keeping quiet?”

During their session, Okero’s faction reviewed the 2025/2026 county budget estimates and health-related bills. Meanwhile, Nyabaro didn’t attend his group’s meeting, with James Matinga chairing instead.

Matinga criticised Governor Amos Nyaribo for the ongoing leadership crisis and urged the Mashinani group to “swallow their pride and come back to the main assembly”.

MCAs Julius Matwere, Vincent Benecha, and Mishel Kemuma dismissed the Bunge Mashinani outfit as “illegal”.

Both assemblies adjourned for two weeks to seek resolution to the conflict.