Chaos at Machakos county assembly: Fistfights, suspensions, and leadership crisis

Some of the MCAs engaged in fist fights forcing the Speaker to flee the chambers

by GEORGE OWITI

Eastern10 June 2025 - 19:48

In Summary

MCAs began shouting at each other, and soon some engaged in physical fights.
Video footage from the assembly showed members removing their neckties and daring their colleagues to take them on.

Sittings at the Machakos County Assembly were temporarily suspended following a chaotic fistfight among MCAs on Tuesday just as sessions resumed after a three-month break.

The trouble erupted moments after Speaker Ann Kiusya announced the removal of the Minority Leader, Julius Ndawa.

Ndawa, the Matuu MCA, was ousted following complaints from members of the Maendeleo Chap Chap party who accused him of disloyalty.

Some MCAs claimed Ndawa had become too close to the county’s executive, prompting a push to replace him with Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu.

Chaos broke out when the Speaker prepared to make another announcement—this time about the removal of Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka, the Machakos Central MCA from the Wiper party.

Nzioka is also seen as an ally of the county executive, a perception that fueled tensions.

MCAs began shouting at each other, and soon some engaged in physical fights.

Video footage from the assembly showed members removing their neckties and daring their colleagues to take them on.

In the middle of the mayhem, Speaker Kiusya fled the chamber and was escorted to safety by the sergeant at arms. The assembly’s ceremonial mace was also whisked away to avoid further escalation.

Security has since been reinforced at the assembly compound with a visible presence of armed police officers to prevent more violence.

By press time, the atmosphere had calmed, though the assembly sittings remained suspended.

The tension at the Machakos Assembly is part of a larger crisis that has been brewing for months.

Ndawa and Nzioka had both been vocal critics of the Speaker, a conflict that led to a protracted stalemate and earlier suspension of assembly activities.

Speaker Kiusya, facing an ouster attempt, moved to court to block her removal.

The escalating disputes drew the attention of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations.

Last month, Clerk of the Senate J.M Nyegeny summoned Kiusya, the acting assembly clerk, and the entire house leadership to appear before the committee on May 27.

The Senate committee ordered that the assembly resume its sessions immediately.

While Tuesday’s violence has temporarily halted proceedings, questions remain about whether the Machakos County Assembly can heal its deep divisions and return to normal business.

The public is watching closely, concerned about governance in the county and the growing political friction within the assembly.