There was drama this afternoon in the Mandera County Assembly, as members of county assembly fought, over the vetting of nominees for the county executive member, made by governor Ali Roba.
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Mandera County Assembly has been the scene of multiple dramatic confrontations among Members of County Assembly (MCAs), often stemming from political and governance disputes.
Notable Incidents of Conflict
November 2017 – Fist Fight Over Executive Nominees In November 2017, a physical altercation erupted in the assembly when members opposed a report recommending the rejection of all ten executive nominees forwarded by Governor Ali Roba. The session was marred by whistle-blowing and fist fights, leading to an adjournment. Jubilee Party MCAs, who were in the minority, expressed their discontent with the Economic Freedom Party (EFP)-led majority’s decision to reject the nominees .
- March 2017 – Majority Leader Injured In March 2017, chaos ensued during a session discussing a supplementary budget. The presence of plainclothes police officers in the public gallery led to protests from MCAs, culminating in an assault on the Majority Leader, Robow Hassan, who was injured and subsequently hospitalized .
- June 2023 – Salary Increase Discontent In June 2023, Mandera MCAs criticized the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s decision to increase their salaries by only Ksh 10,000. Led by Guticha Ward MCA Mohamed Shukri Ibrahim, they vowed to continue their strike until their demands were addressed, accusing the commission of failing to engage with their association, the Association of Members of County Assemblies (AMCA) .
- March 2025 – Budget Cut Protests In March 2025, MCAs challenged a decision that reduced their annual allocation from Ksh 40 billion to Ksh 36 billion. They argued that the budget cut would negatively impact their ability to oversee county operations and maintain essential services, while county executives received an additional Ksh 7 billion. The MCAs sought a court order to have the County Allocation of Revenue Act (2024) declared unconstitutional .
Ongoing Tensions
These incidents highlight the persistent tensions within the Mandera County Assembly, often driven by political affiliations, governance issues, and financial disputes. The assembly’s ability to function effectively has been repeatedly challenged by these conflicts, impacting its legislative and oversight role
