Senate directs Machakos County Assembly to hold special session

A Senate committee has instructed the Speaker and members of the Machakos County Assembly to convene a Special Sitting and resume all plenary sessions and official activities within seven days.

This directive follows the indefinite suspension of House business by Speaker Anne Kiusya on April 8, 2025.

The shutdown came in the wake of chaos within the Assembly premises, where tensions escalated into physical confrontations, including fistfights and chair-throwing incidents.

Chaos erupted during a meeting of the County Assembly’s House Business Committee (HBC) as members clashed over the proposed agenda for upcoming House sessions.

Appearing before the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on May 27, 2025, ward representatives led by Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioki called for the Speaker to be held responsible, accusing her of abusing her office and breaching constitutional values.

Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka told the Senate’s Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee that Speaker Anne Kiusya’s move to suspend sittings of the Machakos County Assembly was unconstitutional and procedurally unsound.

He argued that the decision lacked a legal foundation and had significantly disrupted governance and service delivery.

Nzioka claimed the Speaker misinterpreted both the Constitution and the County Governments Act by halting House proceedings, effectively overriding the Assembly’s legislative role without any lawful justification.

He further criticized her for citing the County Assembly Service Board (CASB) as the authority behind the suspension of legislative sessions.

According to Nzioka, this was a clear misuse of office and a breach of the principle of separation of powers.

"The CASB has no power to halt or resume plenary or committee sessions, nor can it alter the Assembly’s calendar. Using the board’s name to justify such actions amounts to an abuse of office," he told the committee chaired by Wajir Senator Mohamud Abbas.

Nzioka said the shutdown resulted in legislative gridlock, delays in budgetary processes, weakened oversight, and interruptions to public services.

In her defense, Speaker Kiusya maintained that the decision to suspend Assembly proceedings was based on safety concerns.

She stated that the move was not made unilaterally but followed discussions with the Clerk, adding that they jointly assessed the risks and deemed suspension the most appropriate step at the time.

Defending her actions, Speaker Anne Kiusya stated that she acted within her powers under the Standing Orders when she suspended both committee and plenary sessions. She said the suspension was necessary to protect the safety of Assembly members, staff, and herself.

"The operations of the Assembly could not continue under threats of physical harm, lawlessness, verbal abuse, and general disorder," she explained, adding that no one should be expected to carry out official duties under such unsafe conditions.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa raised concerns over the lack of Hansard records from the House Business Committee meeting where tensions had escalated.

In response, Kiusya admitted, "I honestly don’t know whether the Hansard was functional because I’ve never used it myself. In fact, Hansard officers, sergeant-at-arms, and even some county officials were not granted access to the Speaker’s boardroom."