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A move to impeach Machakos Assembly Speaker Ann Kiusya, has been dismissed as a “witch hunt” by Governor Wavinya Ndeti and a futile effort by the majority of Machakos County Assembly members.
Twenty-three MCAs, primarily from the Minority Side, gathered at a city hotel to express their defiance against the impeachment motion, declaring it unlikely to succeed.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu vehemently rejected the claims of the opposition, who assert they have the necessary numbers to remove the Speaker.
“We saw them chest-thumping that they have numbers let them bring it to the floor of the house; we will sweep them down,” Kavyu said, emphasising that any successful impeachment motion requires both substantial grounds and a majority vote.
With the MCAs divided, Kavyu pointed out that the motion would need at least 45 votes to succeed, a threshold that the opposition has not achieved.
The controversy surrounding the impeachment motion has also sparked a fierce rebuttal from other MCAs.
Mua MCA Francis Ngunga raised the issue of fiscal mismanagement, accusing the governor of wasting taxpayer funds on what he described as frivolous political moves.
“While our hospitals remain devoid of basic commodities, a lot of money has been wasted planning the impeachment of our Speaker,” Ngunga said. He also claimed that some MCAs had been lured with promises of Ksh. 1 million each to support the motion, which Kalama MCA Boniface Maeke condemned, stating, “We are not ready to auction our people.”
The MCAs also referenced a recent statement by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who had advised against the impeachment.
Muthwani MCA further suggested that the governor’s actions, which appeared to prioritise personal political ambitions, were detrimental to party unity.
A potential counter-impeachment motion against Governor Wavinya has even been hinted at by some members.
Machakos High Court has issued conservatory orders concerning the speaker’s impeachment, with Speaker Kiusya seeking legal protection from what she claims is an unjust process.
The court has scheduled the matter for mention on April 30th, 2025, leaving the political landscape in the county in suspense.
As the drama unfolds, the Constitution and parliamentary rules are clear about the procedure for removing a Speaker.
According to the relevant Standing Orders, a notice for the motion to remove the Speaker must be signed by the proposing member, affirming the truth of the allegations, and supported by at least a third of all the members of the county assembly.
Furthermore, once the notice has been approved by the Speaker, the motion must be presented within seven days, and the specifics of the motion should include grounds such as gross misconduct, violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, or incompetence.
