A Senate committee has ordered Machakos County Assembly Speaker and members to convene a Special Sitting and have plenary sessions, operations and other programs within seven days.

The directive comes after the County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya suspended the business of the House indefinitely on April 8, 2025, following a fracas in the precincts of the Assembly that resulted in fist-fights and the throwing of chairs.

Hell broke loose during a meeting of the County Assembly’s House Business Committee (HBC) that was processing and planning the agenda of the House disagreed on the items to be transacted on the floor of the House.

On May 27, 2025, the ward reps, led by Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioki, told the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee that the Speaker should be held accountable for abuse of power and violation of constitutional principles.

Assembly sitting

“The suspension of the Machakos County Assembly by the Speaker was legally and procedurally flawed, lacked constitutional basis and continues to impair governance and service delivery,” Nzioka said.

According to Nzioka, the Speaker’s action of suspending the County Assembly’s sittings and plenary was a misinterpretation of the constitution and the County Government’s Acts, adding that her action usurped the Assembly’s legislative mandate and had no legal foundation.

Nzioka further accused the Speaker of invoking the decision of the County Assembly Service Board (CASB) to manage legislative sessions, adding that it is an abuse of office and a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

“CASB does not have the mandate to suspend or lift the suspension of plenary or committee sittings or determine the County Assembly calendar. The Speaker’s invocation of the CASB decision to manage legislative session is an abuse of office and a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers,” Nzioka said.

Nzioka told the Wajir Senator Mohamud Abbas-led committee that the suspension of the County Assembly led to legislative paralysis, budget delays, oversight obstruction and service delivery impact.

In her response, Kiusya defended her decision to suspend the activities of the County Assembly because of security reasons.

“The decision to suspend the Assembly’s sittings was not unilateral. It was after a consultation with the Clerk. We assessed the situation and concluded that it was the best course of action to take,” Kiusya said.

Risk of personal injury

She went on: “In suspending the committee and plenary sittings of the County Assembly, the Speaker exercised the discretion under the Standing Orders to stop the operations of the Assembly until the safety of the Speaker, members and staff is assured.”

She explained that the Speaker (herself), MCAs and the staff could not undertake the Assembly’s business at the risk of personal injury, risk to life, chaos, disorder, verbal attack, anarchy and the general violation of the law.

Karungo Wa Thang’wa (Kiambu) questioned why, during the HBC session, there were no Hansard records.

“I’m not sure if the Hansard works because I have never used it even once. The County officials, Hansard officers and even some sergeant officers were not allowed into the speaker boardroom,” she responded.