A faction of Nyandarua County’s Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) has dismissed the impending impeachment motion against Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha, calling it “baseless” and “procedurally flawed.” The group, led by Majority Leader Mwangi Nyagah and Minority Leader Mwangi Gichuki, held a press briefing after a meeting at the county assembly chambers, where they urged local residents to disregard reports of the motion as mere propaganda.
The dispute began after Milangine MCA Samwel Mathu presented an impeachment motion accusing the governor of constitutional violations, including the unlawful hiring of staff and inflating the county’s wage bill. The motion, which has been the subject of much debate, claims that the governor’s actions have harmed the county’s financial management and governance.
A Divided House
The motion is spearheaded by Mathu, who insists that Governor Badilisha’s actions have breached several aspects of the law. According to Mathu, Badilisha’s administration has been mismanaging county resources, particularly through the alleged illegal recruitment of staff and over-bloating the wage bill. These actions, he argues, are an abuse of public funds that undermine effective governance.
Despite this, several MCAs, including Shamata MCA Reuben Gitau, have voiced their opposition to the impeachment motion. Gitau, speaking on behalf of those opposing the motion, argued that frequent impeachment attempts are causing unnecessary distractions and that the county needs to focus on more critical issues that affect residents. He suggested that instead of pursuing impeachment motions, the leadership should direct its energy towards tackling challenges such as infrastructure development, service delivery, and addressing residents’ concerns.
“The people of Nyandarua are tired of constant political wrangling,” Gitau said. “We need to prioritize the issues that directly affect the welfare of our people, not engage in endless power struggles.”
Accusations of Mismanagement and Corruption
The impeachment petition, filed by MCA Wainaina, claims that Governor Badilisha has acted in contempt of county laws and has engaged in unethical practices that are incompatible with the office of the governor. Wainaina, who is also a vocal critic of the governor’s leadership, accused Badilisha of several breaches, including the illegal hiring of county staff, which he says has contributed to a bloated wage bill.
One of the central accusations concerns the deployment of officers to oversee the county’s revenue collection. According to Wainaina, the deployment of officers from the Governor’s Service Delivery Unit (GSDU) to head the revenue stations violates the law and poses risks to the integrity of the county’s financial management system. He suggested that this move is part of a larger scheme to misappropriate funds and defraud the county.
Another significant allegation involves a pyrethrum program introduced by the governor. Wainaina claims that the program, which involved the procurement of seedlings, was a sham designed to siphon public funds. He further argued that the seedlings failed to thrive, and the project ultimately did not meet its intended objectives, causing unnecessary financial loss.
Additionally, Wainaina accuses the governor of corruption, alleging that he has demanded bribes from county service providers and failed to ensure timely payments for services rendered. This, according to Wainaina, has led to a growing pile of unpaid bills, further straining the county’s finances.
The petition also points to irregularities in procurement processes. Wainaina alleges that Badilisha awarded a construction contract to a company owned by him, which allegedly delivered substandard work that did not meet the required quality standards set by the Kenya Building Code. Furthermore, he claims that the governor directed catering services to a hotel connected to him, a violation of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
A Call for Stability and Governance
In response to these accusations, the MCAs backing Governor Badilisha have strongly defended his leadership, asserting that the charges are unfounded and politically motivated. They argue that the governor is committed to serving the people of Nyandarua and is working tirelessly to improve service delivery and governance. The Majority and Minority Leaders have emphasized that the county’s focus should remain on addressing development challenges and delivering on promises made to the electorate.
“This is not the time for political distractions,” said Mwangi Nyagah. “Our mandate is to serve the people, and that’s what we intend to do.”
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the impeachment motion will gain sufficient traction in the assembly. The growing division among the MCAs reflects the broader political dynamics in Nyandarua County, where leadership disputes often intersect with the need for tangible development outcomes.
For now, the fate of Governor Badilisha hangs in the balance as the county assembly navigates the complexities of political rivalry, governance, and the pursuit of justice.
