The Speaker of the Kitui County Assembly, Kevin Kinengo Katisya, has suspended eleven Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) for a period of 90 days.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Speaker Kinengo said the suspensions were issued under Standing Order 103A, which empowers the Speaker to act against members whose conduct disrupts or discredits the work of the Assembly.
The decision follows a series of incidents involving disorder, public altercations and the disclosure of confidential information.
Two members of the County Assembly Service Board, Mathew Ngovi Vuthi (Chuluni) and Hussein Mwandia (Ikutha), were singled out for revealing sensitive board matters to the press in contravention of their oath of office.
Vuthi was further accused of directing abusive language at the Speaker. Nominated MCA Jacinta Mary Mwoni was also suspended for remarks and conduct at a public meeting convened by Governor Julius Malombe, where she allegedly demeaned the office of the Speaker and struck fellow member Jeremiah Musee Mutua in full view of the public.
The remaining members, including nominated and elected representatives, were cited for causing scuffles in the Assembly chambers during the Governor’s State of the County Address in July.
The Speaker said their conduct had violated standing orders on maintaining decorum and orderly debate.
The suspensions bar the MCAs from Assembly precincts, sittings, committees and official programmes for the next three months.
Speaker Kinengo stressed that discipline and respect for House rules were “non-negotiable for the effective functioning of the Assembly”. The matter has also been referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee for further inquiry.
Want me to cut this down into a punchier, newspaper front-page style version (around 200 words) or keep it long-form Guardian analysis style?
