Landslide anger is building within Nairobi’s County Assembly as ward representatives accuse Members of Parliament from the city of disrespect and exclusion from national functions involving President William Ruto.

The MCAs, led by Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, launched a strong attack during Tuesday’s plenary, calling out what they described as growing arrogance and deliberate sidelining by a section of city MPs, particularly from the ODM party.

“We are not lesser leaders; we must be respected,” Imwatok said, accusing the MPs of treating MCAs as irrelevant and positioning themselves as the sole link between Nairobi and the Presidency.

In a fiery debate, Imwatok singled out three unnamed MPs, claiming they were working to frustrate the Assembly’s efforts to establish a working relationship with the Head of State.

He warned that the Assembly would not remain silent if the disrespect continues and hinted at political action, though he did not disclose what steps they would take.

“Some of our colleagues in Parliament behave as if they are the only ones who deserve the President’s attention. We shall expose you to the end,” he said.

The MCAs claimed they have consistently been left out of critical presidential events, especially those held in Nairobi, with protocol officers reportedly acting on instructions to block them from attending.

They accused MPs of using their influence to ensure ward representatives are sidelined and replaced by political brokers.

“We must be treated with dignity, Mr Speaker. We shall not allow these MPs to demean us in the name of the ‘big boys syndrome.’ The dignity of this House and its Honourable Members must be protected,” Imwatok declared.

The frustrations prompted the Assembly to formally ask Speaker Ken Ng’ondi to help organise a direct meeting between the MCAs and President Ruto.

The ward reps argued that a face-to-face forum would allow them to raise issues affecting their electorates without interference from MPs or other actors they described as middlemen.

“We are calling upon you, Speaker, to please move with speed and initiate our meeting with the President. It will be the best opportunity to air out our views and issues affecting our wards. We are not going to deal with brokers anymore,” said Imwatok.

The statement was met with applause from fellow ward representatives, many of whom supported the demand for recognition and respect in government processes.

The MCAs insisted they play a crucial role in city governance and deserve to be treated with the same honour as MPs when the President visits Nairobi.

The outburst reveals deepening friction between leaders at different levels in the capital, with MCAs pushing back against what they see as political dominance and exclusion by Nairobi’s Members of Parliament.