Mandera Majority Leader hurt as MCAs clash in Assembly

Chaos marred a second attempt by some Mandera Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to re-introduce a motion seeking to approve supplementary budget.

Lagdera MCA Hussein Ali said Thursday afternoon session turned chaotic after members noticed presence of police officers drawn from Anti-Terror and the DCI in the public gallery.

“We got into the chambers only to find plainclothes police seated in the gallery something illegal forcing one of us to raise alarm,” he said.

The MCA said House Speaker Abdikadir Sheikh ignored the alarm and allowed the Majority Leader Robow Hassan to proceed and introduce the motion.

“A member was forced to hit the Majority Leader injuring him on the ear forcing him (majority leader) to draw his gun,” narrated Mr Ali.

Mr Hassan was rushed to a private hospital in Mandera town as the Speaker proceeded to adjourn the chaotic afternoon session from his office before hastily driving out of Assembly compound.

Banisa MCA Yakub Emoi said members allied to Governor Ali Roba want the rejected Sh1.7 billion supplementary budget approved by all means.

“We rejected the finance motion and it means it can only be brought back after six months but we are reading a lot in this,” said Mr Emoi.

Mandera East OCPD Ezekiel Singoe coordinating police operations at the assembly declined to comment on the incident.

Mr Emoi claimed the police were being used to intimidate and instill fear in the MCAs for an injustice to be committed.

“With or without the police our stand remains no supplementary budget will be approved in this House,” he said.

The Speaker also declined to comment on the matter promising to issue a press statement later.

On Wednesday Issack Dahir grabbed the mace and dropped it in a pit latrine setting the stage for more confrontations.

The 48 MCAs at Mandera County Assembly are divided into two groups with one allied to Governor Ali Roba and the other allied to council of elders’ gubernatorial choice Hassan Noor Hassan.