In a historic and dramatic turn of events, ten Members of the Nyamira County Assembly were stripped of their seats on Monday after failing to attend eight consecutive sittings in the officially gazetted Assembly, marking the first time such a large number of MCAs have lost their positions at once.

Among those affected are two elected ward representatives, Nyambega Gisesa of Rigoma and Joel Ombongi of Bokeira, both elected on a UPA ticket, the party led by Governor Amos Nyaribo.

The rest are nominated MCAs: Martha Marua (ANC), Janerose Nafula Nyakundi (ODM), Jeriah Nyakangi (UPA), Zipporah Matundura (Wiper), Elijah Abere (UPA), Edina Obara (UPA), and Beatrice Onyancha (UPA).

Their removal followed a special sitting of the Assembly where the powers and privileges committee, led by Bonyamatuta MCA Julius Matwere, tabled a report recommending action against them for violating the Powers and Privileges Act, 2017.

Speaker Thadaus Nyabaro, while delivering the ruling, said formal communication will be made to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to declare the affected positions vacant.

“These MCAs failed to attend the required sittings and contravened the law. The seats are now officially vacant,” the Speaker announced during the session.

The ten are associated with former Speaker Enock Okero and had been meeting at an alternative venue, Bunge Mashinani, for the past eight months, while the faction led by Speaker Nyabaro continued holding sittings in the official assembly chambers.

However, three weeks ago, the High Court in Bomet ruled that the Bunge Mashinani forum was illegal and recognized the Nyabaro-led faction as the legitimate Assembly. The court also directed that those who held sittings under Bunge Mashinani be surcharged for public funds used during the unauthorized sessions.

Despite the ruling, Okero's camp has moved to the Court of Appeal in Nakuru, with a hearing set for July 23, 2025, challenging the High Court’s decision.

Those who narrowly escaped the axe include Magwagwa MCA Abel Mose and Lameck Onyancha Nyakianga of Itibo Ward, who were also on the radar but had missed seven and six sittings respectively, falling short of the threshold for disqualification.

Gisesa and Ombongi, who attended the sitting where the decision was made, dismissed the ruling as political and laughable.

“This move is meant to create space so as to have Governor Amos Nyaribo impeached, but let them be told that the political wars have now started,” Ombongi told journalists.

The ousted MCAs are believed to have been targeted due to their perceived loyalty to both Okero and Governor Nyaribo. Their removal deepens an already volatile situation in Nyamira, where the County Assembly has been rocked by months of leadership disputes, including the existence of parallel assemblies, speakers, and clerks.

With the latest shake-up, the political turmoil in Nyamira shows no sign of ending, even as fresh by-elections loom.