MCA slapped in Machakos as Mutua, Muthama row escalates

The Machakos County Assembly majority leader was Sunday slapped by a woman MCA and the row degenerated into a fist fight among leaders.

The scuffle between Mr Joshua Mwonga and nominated MCA Carol Musembi started when the majority leader arrived at the function and demanded to talk last because he is the area MCA.

Mr Mwonga had not been invited to the function, as he is allied to Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, but he is a former student of the school.

Allies of Senator Johnson Muthama, Mr Mutua’s political rival, had organised the harambee.

But when called to invite other ward reps, the majority leader declined, saying that as the area MCA, he was supposed to speak last.

At this stage, Ms Musembi, a Wiper-nominated MCA allied to Mr Muthama took to the podium and started introducing other invited guests.

When she invited embattled Machakos Deputy Governor Benard Kiala, Mr Mwonga grabbed the microphone from her.

At this point, Ms Musembi slapped the majority leader on the face.

FIERCE FIST FIGHT

A fierce fist fight then broke out when Mr Mwonga’s supporters charged towards the MCA.

However, Ms Musembi's supporters also intervened and the rival groups exchanged blows.

Senator Muthama and Deputy Governor Kiala watched the unfolding drama from the dais.

Parents who had accompanied their children to the harambee joined the melee.

“I was mostly angered for being slapped by a woman for the first time since I was born.

This is a taboo according to Kamba tradition,” Mr Mwonga later said.

Signs of trouble were evident when MCAs allied to Mr Muthama started addressing the crowd, accusing Governor Mutua of mishandling money meant for the elderly.

This prompted Ekalakala MCA and Mutua ally Mr Isaac Muinde to shoot up and defend the county assembly.