In a dramatic turn of events, Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai was suspended from the Nairobi County Assembly premises until further notice. This comes after Nairobi Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi ordered the sergeant at arms to escort him out of the chamber on May 4, 2023.
The suspension was announced by the Speaker, who stated that Alai would remain suspended until the Powers and Privileges Committee concludes its investigation. “The sole responsibility lies with the Powers and Privileges Committee. For that reason, I direct the honorable member to leave the sitting until such a time that we shall receive a detailed report,” Speaker Ng’ondi said.
Alai’s suspension follows an altercation with Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, who was left in tears during the session on May 4. It remains unclear what sparked the disagreement between the two.
Several members of the assembly unanimously agreed to suspend Alai, who will also not be allowed to sit in County Assembly Committees until the matter is resolved.
This is not the first time Alai has courted controversy. In 2021, he was arrested and detained at the Kilimani Police Station after appearing to assault controversial artiste Alex Apoko, popularly known as Ringtone. He was later arraigned before Kibra senior magistrate, where he was denied charges of causing grievous bodily harm to the artist and damaging his car.
Alai has also been involved in confrontations with other politicians, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna at an Azimio rally, where he forced veteran politician Raila Odinga to shout his name.
Known for his controversial messages on social media, Alai enjoys a massive following. The details of his latest suspension are yet to be fully established.