Africa-Press – Kenya. Three members of the Garissa county assembly were on Wednesday suspended over allegations they were involved in the fracas that occurred in House Thursday last week.
The chaos left the assembly vandalised.
Garissa county assembly speaker Abdi Idle announced that former majority leader Abubakar Khalif (Galbet ward), Abdirahman Ali (Sankuri) and Omar Abdi (Damajaley) have been suspended for the reminder of the session.
They are expected back on December 6.
“Abdirahman Ali, Omar Abdi and Abubakar Khalif are hereby suspended from the service of the county assembly for the reminder of the session with immediate effect,” the speaker said.
“As per the Standing Orders, the suspended members shall forfeit all payable allowances during the period of the suspension. I will allow three minutes for the three members to withdraw from the house.”
The three defended themselves against the accusations, saying they had nothing to do with the chaos.
They have asked security agencies to preview the CCTV footage to establish what happened.
Khalif hit out at the speaker accusing him of not following the right channels to suspend them.
“I hear he has suspended the three of us using some foreign material that he produced from his pocket. Unfortunately, up to now we don’t know what we have done to warrant such action. If anything, it is him who has been brewing trouble in the house by not only following the Standing Orders but court orders as well,” he said.
Khalif said they will fight for justice and the rule of law.
“And I can assure you we will fight this impunity which we must bring to an end in the house. Any member in the near future should not be subjected to such illegalities. This is not a fight for leadership positions but a fight for justice and the rule law,” the MCA said.
On Thursday last week, there were chaos in the assembly when the speaker was presiding over the House Business Committee and police had to be called to restore calm in the house.
This happened during the House Business Committee meeting at the assembly chambers, leaving the house vandalised.
Trouble had started in the assembly on September 13 when the speaker announced changes in the assembly replacing majority leader Khalif (ODM) with Mohamed Farah (Wiper).
The speaker further said Ahmed Abdirahman had replaced Abdi Ibrahim as majority whip, while Mahat Abdikadir had replaced Omar Abdi as county assembly service board member.
Two weeks ago, Abakaile MCA Hajir Dahiye said they were mooting a plan to impeach the speaker accusing him of “incompetence”.
This was, however, dismissed by the new majority leader Farah who said that those behind the plan do not have the numbers.
The speaker has time and again defended himself against any accusations, saying that he merely communicated leadership changes that originated from the majority party.
The matter is still in court.
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