Minority MCAs Walk Out as Embu Assembly Passes Committee Changes

Embu, Kenya | August 26, 2026

A bitter dispute between the majority and minority sides in the Embu County Assembly erupted after the tabling of a controversial report seeking to reconstitute the Assembly’s committees.

Tensions rose after Speaker Josiah Thiriku allowed debate on the report to proceed, despite objections from members of the minority side, who questioned the process followed in preparing and tabling the proposed changes.

Minority-aligned MCAs accused their colleagues of bypassing proper procedure and claimed that the committee report had been prepared without the necessary consensus among members of the Selection Committee.

The dispute led to a dramatic walkout by several MCAs led by Minority Leader Ngari Mbaka, who was joined by Kiambere MCA Lenny Masters, Nthawa MCA Sammy Tito, Makima MCA Phillip Nzangi and nominated MCA Yvonne Mati.

The minority members argued that the proposed changes were intended to remove or punish MCAs perceived to be opposed to the county government. Some of the MCAs also alleged that the county executive was interfering with the affairs of the Assembly, further adding to the political tensions surrounding the committee changes.

However, Speaker Thiriku defended the process, saying the report had been signed by four of the eight members of the Selection Committee and was therefore properly before the Assembly for consideration.

Efforts to have the debate postponed failed, and the majority side proceeded to debate and pass the motion, ratifying the report in the absence of the protesting minority members.

The fallout has exposed deepening divisions within the Embu County Assembly and is likely to intensify political tensions between the majority and minority sides. With both camps accusing each other of disregarding parliamentary procedure, the dispute over the committee changes could further test relations within the Assembly in the coming days.