A section of Machakos County Assembly Members (MCAs) has strongly opposed an ongoing attempt to impeach County Speaker Ann Kiusya, dismissing it as a politically motivated move allegedly orchestrated by Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, 23 MCAs, mostly from the Minority Side, vowed to block the impeachment motion, terming it a “witch hunt” and a waste of public resources. Led by Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu, the legislators rubbished claims that the Majority Side had enough numbers to oust the Speaker.
“We saw them chest-thumping that they have the numbers… Let them bring it to the floor of the house; we will sweep them down,” Kavyu declared. He emphasized that any successful impeachment would require at least 45 votes, a threshold the opposition has yet to achieve.
The controversy surrounding the motion has triggered a fierce debate among county leaders. Mua MCA Francis Ngunga accused Governor Wavinya of misusing public funds to push for an unnecessary political battle instead of addressing critical issues such as the healthcare crisis in the county.
“While our hospitals remain devoid of basic commodities, a lot of money has been wasted planning the impeachment of our Speaker,” Ngunga lamented. He further claimed that some MCAs had been offered Ksh.1 million bribes to support the motion.
Kalama Ward MCA Boniface Maeke condemned the alleged coercion and declared, “We are not ready to auction our people.” The dissenting MCAs also cited Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who recently advised against the Speaker’s removal, warning that such internal wrangles could harm party unity.
Muthwani MCA Dominic Maithya, a vocal critic of the governor, hinted at a possible counter-impeachment motion against Wavinya Ndeti. He accused the governor of prioritizing personal political ambitions over service delivery, a move he warned could further divide the county.
Meanwhile, the Machakos High Court has issued a conservatory order halting the impeachment motion. Speaker Ann Kiusya moved to court seeking legal protection, arguing that the process was unjust. The court has set April 30, 2025, as the date for mention, leaving the county’s political landscape in uncertainty.
