Nakuru UDA MCAs split over party's directive to maintain new majority leader

A showdown is looming at the Nakuru county assembly after a section of ward representatives rejected the decision by the ruling United Democratic Alliance party to affirm Keringet MCA as the new majority leader.

The MCAs who are allied to Mosop ward representative, who was impeached, have vowed to block the party’s communication to the floor of the house on Tuesday (Today).

Addressing the press on Monday at the assembly precincts, the MCAs accused the party secretary general Hassan Omar of unfair treatment, saying the party appeared to side with the opposing faction.

Led by Naivasha MCA Alex Mbugua, the aggrieved MCAs claimed the party failed to amicably resolve the dispute, but rather sided with one faction.

According to Mr Mbugua, the senator allowed the assembly chief whip, Fadhili Msuri who is allied to Mr Mutai to preside over the election and announce the winner during the meeting that was convened at the party headquarters in Nairobi.

“We had requested that the two individuals (Alex Lagat and Mutai) step aside so that a new person could be voted in as the majority leader. However, Mr Omar decided to take it aside by allowing the whip to preside over the election,” says Mr Mbugua.

Mr Mbugua argued that the party showed bias towards their faction, adding that they will not accept the results in the house.

Maela West ward representative Francis Kuria noted that all the MCA's behind Mr Langat's ouster are ready to face off against him.

He vowed to mobilise the assembly ward representatives to reject any communication in the house.

According to him, the party should have given them a neutral person for the position of the majority leader.

“We will not be cowed by anyone to table the motions on the main forum. If they think it is a joke let them try and do it tomorrow s they will face us,” says Mr Kuria.

The impeached majority leader Alex Lagat agreed with the idea of both him and Mr Mutai stepping aside to allow the party make appropriate decisions.

On the other hand, the second faction led by the chief whip Fathili Msuri dismissed the claim noting that the motion will proceed as planned in order to communicate the decision of the party.

Mr Msuri advises members of the other faction to seek legal redress to appeal the decision of the party.

“We all went before the party and were fairly heard by the party. However, we shall not allow them to stall the business of the house. If they feel aggrieved by the party, why don’t they appeal the matter before the court.