EACC Takes Action On Chaos At Kericho County Assembly

The anti-graft agency termed such misconduct by state officers as an embarrassment to the nation.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jan 14, 2023 - 11:23 Updated: Jan 14, 2023 - 11:23
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EACC Takes Action On Chaos At Kericho County Assembly
A photo collage of Members of the County Assembly in Kericho in chaos during a special sitting on Friday, January 13, 2023. /NTV

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has promised to investigate the chaos that erupted at the Kericho County Assembly on Friday, January 13.

While condemning the incident that occurred in the afternoon, the anti-graft agency termed such misconduct by state officers as an embarrassment to the nation.

It added that the physical altercation, which was captured on video, set the country back to a challenge that many county assemblies have managed to overcome, over the years.

Kericho County Assembly premises in this photo taken on November 11, 2022. /DAILY NATION

“No differences of whatever nature or magnitude should make MCAs or any other state officers engage in physical fights or other unethical conduct. County assemblies should desist from using unorthodox means when resolving differences,” EACC said.

EACC added that the actions by the Kericho Members of County Assembly (MCA) were against the set ethics for government officers, according to the Constitution.

“Notably, the actions of the concerned Kericho MCAs fall outside the prescribed ethics and integrity standards for state officers, as laid out under Chapter Six of the Constitution. Article 73(1)(a) of the Constitution requires state officers to conduct themselves in a manner that shows respect for the people, promotes public confidence and brings honour to the Nation and dignity to the office. 

"Under Article 75(1(c), a state officer is required to behave, whether in public and official life, in private life, or in association with other persons, in a manner that does not demean the office they hold,” EACC added.

The MCAs had held the special sitting, which was expected to be messy, due to recent House leadership changes announced last weekend in Nakuru, where Kamsian Ward MCA Mr Philiph Rono was picked as the new Majority Leader to replace Kapsoit ward MCA Paul Chirchir.

The stand-off further proved the sharp division in the leadership of the county assembly that changed for the third time in four months.

The 47 Members of the Kericho County Assembly had reconvened hardly a week after House leadership changes were effected for the third time. The sitting also came two days after Mutai received an endorsement of the changes from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Secretary General Veronica Maina.

Earlier, a standoff brewed between the Kericho County Assembly Speaker, Patrick Mutai and his Deputy, Erick Bett, after the former kicked out journalists who were meant to cover the special sitting to consider the supplementary budget.

Mutai had directed the Sergeant at Arms to chase away about 15 journalists who had gone to cover the session, who were deployed from media houses such as Nation Media Group (NMG), Royal Media Services (RMS), Standard Media Group (SMG), K24 as well as journalists representing local vernacular radio stations.

"Who told you to come here? Get those guys (media) out of here. Let them follow the proceedings online," Mutai told security officers.

However, the online link to the session, which was aired on Facebook, was pulled down after being active for less than five minutes before the audio was cut.

The move led to a standoff between Mutai and Bett, with the latter having earlier given the media the go-ahead to cover the session, something that angered Mutai.

"Who is in charge here? I am the Speaker and I have said the media will stay out. That is final," Mutai told the Deputy Speaker in front of onlookers. Security officers then followed his orders and kicked journalists out.

Chilchilla Ward MCA Hezron led four MCAs in helping the Speaker enforce his orders and chase away the journalists.

Journalists covering the swearing-in ceremony of President William Ruto at Kasarani Stadium on September 13, 2022. /MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

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