The Wiper Democratic Movement has summoned all its Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) from Kitui County to a crucial meeting aimed at resolving ongoing leadership disputes within the Kitui County Assembly. The Wiper Secretary General, Shakila Abdalla, has called the meeting to address complaints over what some party members claim were unprocedural changes in the assembly’s majority leadership. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday at the party headquarters in Nairobi.
This intervention by the Wiper Party follows a recent vote by 15 out of the 25 Wiper MCAs in the Kitui County Assembly that saw Migwani MCA Harrison Maluki replace Kyuso MCA Munyoki Mwinzi as the majority leader. In the same session, Daniel Ngoima replaced Boniface Katula as the majority whip. The changes were communicated to the assembly by the Kitui Assembly Speaker, Kevin Katisya, during a Wednesday session, where he pledged to support the new leadership to ensure the seamless running of the assembly’s affairs.
Munyoki Mwinzi, the ousted majority leader, has raised concerns over the manner of his removal, labeling it as unprocedural. However, Mwinzi has ruled out the possibility of seeking redress through the courts, opting instead to await the Wiper Party’s decision on the matter, which he hopes will guide his next steps. Mwinzi had himself made a similar takeover bid against Maluki in September of the previous year, adding a layer of complexity to the leadership tussles within the assembly.
The leadership dispute has exposed underlying tensions within the Kitui County Assembly’s majority side, with both Mwinzi and Ngoima filing complaints to the Wiper Party headquarters over their removal. Abdalla, in a letter dated September 5, underscored the urgency of addressing the concerns raised and ensuring a fair and transparent resolution process. The letter emphasized the need for all Kitui Wiper MCAs to attend the meeting, highlighting the importance of their presence in resolving the leadership wrangles.
“The purpose of the meeting is to deliberate the concerns raised, address the alleged unprocedural removal, and chart a way forward,” read part of Abdalla’s letter. The correspondence was also copied to key figures within the party, including the Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kitui Assembly Speaker Kevin Katisya, and Kitui County Wiper Party Coordinator Waziri Bakari, who is also a nominated MCA in the Kitui Assembly.
The ongoing leadership disputes are not new to the Kitui County Assembly, which has seen a series of power struggles within its majority side over the past year. Last September, Mwinzi made a bid to unseat Maluki, but this effort was ultimately unsuccessful. The latest changes, which were endorsed by the Wiper Party headquarters, have reignited the conflict, with both sides trading accusations of unprocedural actions.
Shakila Abdalla’s intervention marks a significant step by the Wiper Party to restore order within its ranks in the Kitui County Assembly. As the MCAs prepare to meet on Monday, the Wiper Party’s leadership will be keen to address the grievances of both the current and former assembly leaders, with the hope of finding a lasting solution to the leadership wrangles.
Speaker Kevin Katisya’s recent communication of the leadership changes in the assembly reflects the fluid nature of the situation, with both the assembly and the party leadership working to navigate the complexities of internal politics. As the Wiper Party seeks to mediate the dispute, the outcome of Monday’s meeting could have significant implications for the future leadership dynamics within the Kitui County Assembly.
With the Wiper Party’s commitment to a fair and transparent resolution process, the focus now shifts to the Nairobi meeting, where the party hopes to bring an end to the protracted leadership wrangles and establish a clear path forward for its MCAs in Kitui County.
