OBJECTION MR,CHAIR. WHAT? SNAKE......

Proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tana River clashes were adjourned for 30 minutes on Thursday when a green snake appeared at the roof of the Maridhiano Hall at Minjila, Tana River sending officials scampering for safety. Trouble begun with an unusual chirping of birds at the roof of the hall. It attracted those in the hall to look up whereupon they noticed the green serpent coiled on the makuti fronds. At that time, the advocate for the Pokomo Council of Elders (Gasa) Mr Joel Obura was in the middle of making an application for the council to be granted full standing to give evidence on the clashes. Joint secretary Mr McDonald Oguya sent a notice to the Commission chair Lady Justice Grace Nzioka. Lady Nzioka gave the ‘warning snake note’ to Ms Emily Ominde, the assisting commissioner who was sitting beside her. They then waited nervously for Mr Obura to end his submission. When he finished, Ms Nzioka gave the assisting counsel Mr Wamuti Ndegwa the opportunity to respond to the application, after which the hearing was adjourned. “This Commission adjourns for two or three minutes,” she announced, and with her colleagues quickly dashed out to safety with tension building among participants who had now spotted the reptile. Administration Police officer Mr Amin Hussein, from the Minjila DC’s office, climbed on the roof to battle the snake. But it slithered and disappeared into the makuti roofing. But that was not the end of drama. The serpent re-appeared after about five minutes causing another round of anxiety. The three commissioners, Ms Nzioka, Ms Ominde and Mr Abdulkadir Lorot, were still at their rooms a few meters from the hall and were alerted not to come out yet. Pokomo elders present and staff of the Maridhiano CBO Center volunteered to pursue the snake on the roof with sticks. One of them managed to hit it. It was then dumped in a pit latrine ending the drama and to the relief of all. The commissioners were called in after at the end of the 30-minute interlude.