Nyamira County Assembly Ends prolonged Leadership Standoff

After more than ten months of internal conflict, tranquility has been restored to the Nyamira County Assembly. 

Thaddeus Nyabaro has formally assumed the role of Speaker, with Duke Onyari taking over as the Clerk.

This resolution follows a protracted leadership crisis that began last September with the impeachment of former Speaker Enock Okero, who subsequently challenged his removal in court.

Speaking to journalists at the assembly's official premises, Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro, alongside the Majority Leader, extended a welcome to ward representatives who had been part of the 'Bunge Mashinani' (grassroots assembly) faction. 

They encouraged remaining members to join them to facilitate the smooth conduct of House business.

Speaker Nyabaro also confirmed the receipt of the 2025/26 budget estimates, which are now ready for deliberation and final approval.

The severe leadership rift within Nyamira County became starkly apparent on April 8, 2025, when the Senate Devolution Committee expressed shock upon discovering that Nyamira County was operating with two separate county assemblies, each conducting its own sittings in different chambers.

The committee was informed that both factions had been independently corresponding with the Office of the Controller of Budget, each seeking authorization to access public funds.

The rival faction, on the other hand, had been holding concurrent assembly sittings, led by the Deputy Speaker and the then self-declared Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro.

At one point, a Senate session addressing the issue nearly escalated into a physical altercation, as Senators Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira) and Richard Onyonka (Kisii) from neighboring counties engaged in a heated dispute.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, who also testified before the committee, revealed that her office had been receiving conflicting correspondence from the two Nyamira assemblies, creating uncertainty about which requests to process.

The two warring groups returned to Nyamira without a resolution from the Senate, with each maintaining their rigid position of holding separate sessions in their respective chambers during Wednesday's sittings.