There was drama at the Nakuru county assembly on Tuesday afternoon after MCAs refused to sit on plastic chairs during a session.
The irked legislators said the move lowers their dignity as honorable members.
The irate members who had come for a session, in which the County Revenue Allocation Bill 2018 was to be tabled as well as a report on the Chief Officers, vowed not to sit on the plastic chairs.
They said the assembly management had failed to ensure appropriate chairs were in the house despite funds having been set aside for the purpose.
Led by Mariashoni ward MCA Douglas Ayebei, the members tried to halt the session claiming it contravened the standing orders of the house.
“Mr. Speaker, we cannot proceed with the business when every member is on the floor we do not know who is talking,” said Ayebei.
However, acting speaker Philip Wanjohi called the house to order stating that there were enough seats in the house.
“Order honorable members, there are enough chairs in the house and if any member who feels like want to sit can take a seat,” said Wanjohi.
However this fell on deaf ears as members vowed to proceed with the business while standing.
Addressing media after the session , Minority leader Peter Palang’a said the members were angered after waiting for so long without communication as to why the session had delayed to commence.
This he says forced the members to revisit the issue of chairs and assembled them at the back of the county assembly.
“Members came here very early but the session delayed to start without any communication and that is why they decided to revisit the issue of plastic seats which they have been using for long despite allocation being in place for appropriate chairs,” said Palang’a.
Keringet MCA Anthony Rotich said it was a shame for honorable members to sit on plastic chairs yet clerks were sitting on comfortable chairs in the house.
He called on the leadership of the county assembly to correct the mess and ensure that there are appropriate seats for the house members.
“How can we be called honorable members yet we just sit on plastic chairs yet a mere clerk sits on comfortable sit?” he said.
However, Kabazi ward MCA Dr.Peter Mbae faulted the MCAs saying there were better things to address in the house rather than engaging on petty issues.
"Honestly we didn’t come here to sit on comfortable seats but to serve the citizens, so if there is an issue there are channels to address the same rather than engaging in sideshows,” he said.