Meet Nakuru MCA giving Speaker Kihika sleepless nights

Ms Margaret Wanjiku Kiiru, a nominated member of Nakuru County Assembly, is a go-getter, fearless and does not shy away from doing what she believes is the right thing.

After serving in the County Assembly for one term, the 30- year-old MCA has resolved it is time to join national politics, as an elected senator.

Ms Kiiru, a business management graduate, has joined the race for the senate as an independent candidate, in what promises to be a bruising battle between her and an equally aggressive and force to reckon with, Speaker Susan Kihika.

The nominated MCA's name last week hit national headlines when she moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and successfully petitioned it to cancel Ms Kihika's nomination as the Jubilee Party senatorial candidate.

Her grounds for cancellation was that Ms Kihika had not resigned her position as Speaker before being cleared to run for the seat.

SHREWD POLITICIAN

However, on Thursday, High Court Judge George Odunga quashed the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal's decision and Ms Kihika carried the day and remains Jubilee Party's candidate for the seat, in the August 8 General Election.

But the MCA says she would petition the decision at the Constitutional court.

Ms Kiiru, an easy going and sociable youthful leader is also aggressive and shrewd and does not shy away from controversy.

She is the kind of person who effortlessly mingles with people of all calibre.

Since her nomination as a member of the Nakuru County Assembly in 2014, she has had a fair share of controversies within and outside the House.

IMPEACH SPEAKER

Her abrasiveness has earned her friends and foe in equal measure.

Those who have interacted with her know she does not shy away from any issue that calls for her attention.

In 2014 hardly a year after her nomination to the Assembly by The National Alliance (TNA), the MCA sponsored a motion seeking the impeachment of Ms Kihika as Speaker.

She had accused Ms Kihika of abuse of office, mismanagement and failure to discharge her duties impartially.

When the impeachment motion flopped, she moved to court accusing Ms Kihika alongside County Assembly Clerk Joseph Malinda of blocking her from tabling and moving the motion in the House.

ABUSE OF OFFICE

Two weeks ago, Justice Maureen Odero, in a ruling, ordered the County Assembly Clerk to clear the impeachment motion for debate, arguing that it ought to have been given first priority over any other business.

In another pending case before the Nakuru High Court, Ms Kiiru wants Ms Kihika blocked from vying in the polls accusing her of abuse of office.

She has sued Ms Kihika, together with assembly clerk Malinda, before High Court Judge Roselyne Korir.

The MCA is seeking orders to have the two declared unfit to hold office saying that after a Sh376 million County Assembly Car Loan and Mortgage Scheme Fund for the MCAs was declared null and void by the High Court, the two should have been charged for violating the Constitution.

In November last year, the MCA locked horns with Nakuru governor Kinuthia Mbugua after she accused the county boss of running a ‘Municipal court’ which he used to harass hawkers and other leaders.

KANGAROO COURT

She successfully petitioned the Senate Committee on Legal Affairs to summon the governor over the issue.

Ms Kiiru on June 25 wrote to the Senate complaining that Mr Mbugua was running the unlawful ‘Kangaroo court’.

In the petition, the MCA said the courts established in 2013 after the General Election, had been used to detain leaders and harass and extort money from small-scale traders, particularly the youth, women and other vulnerable groups.

She argues that municipal enforcement officers prosecuting and overseeing operations in the courts had not been gazetted as investigative or judicial officials thus making it unclear as to who they were answerable to.

STIFF COMPETITION

She asked the Senate to investigate how the revenue collected by the courts was being used and consider closing them down.

The matter is still pending before court.

In the Jubilee Party, Ms Kihika beat lawyer and businessman Karanja Kabage who has since opted to try his luck for the Njoro constituency parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

However, Ms Charity Kathambi, the Jubilee Part candidate for the seat is expected to give the lawyer a run for his money.

Ms Kiiru and Ms Kihika will fight out for the seat with five other candidates who include Samuel Ogada (ODM), Mukoma Munyuthe (Independent) Rono Daniel (Third Way Alliance) and Jacob Kipng'eno of Mazingira Green Party.