MCAs supporting Gachagua's impeachment sleep in Nyeri chambers
34 ward representatives are spending the night at the Nyeri County Assembly chambers over fears that they would be abducted or locked out of the building on September 2, 2016 when the motion to impeach Governor Nderitu Gachagua will be debated. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The MCAs told Nation they feared being kidnapped or locked out of the chambers in the morning by goons.
- Last week on Tuesday, the bid to impeach the governor degenerated into a brawl that also affected journalists and staff.
- The four MCAs involved in the fight risk losing their seats after Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission summoned them on Tuesday.
MCAs supporting impeachment of Governor Nderitu Gachagua that is planned for Friday have decided to spend the night at the Nyeri County Assembly chambers for fear of abduction or being locked out by goons in the morning.
The ward representatives said they would sleep inside the chambers to stop any of them from being compromised and by 9pm on Thursday, they were dozing off in the assembly while others were chatting.
Nyeri County Assembly reps supporting impeachment of Governor Nderitu Gachagua will spend the night at the chambers for fear of being abducted or locked out of the building on September 2, 2016 when the motion will be discussed. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Several MPs among them Kanini Kega (Kieni), Kabando Wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini), Mary Wambui (Othaya), Esther Murugi (Nyeri Town), Ndung’u Gethenji (Tetu), Peter Weru (Mathira) and Priscila Nyokabi (Woman Rep Nyeri) unanimously agreed in a meeting in Nairobi to back the ward reps who are supporting the impeachment motion.
“We are supporting MCAs. The governor has portrayed poor leadership,” said Mr Kega.
Even a warrior can be brought down by a maize comb,” Mr Kabando told Nation on phone.
Only the Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe was absent in the meeting and he took the heat for it.
“We know he has been supporting the governor and probably that’s why he failed to attend our meeting,” said Mr Kega.
However, in a quick rejoinder, Mr Kagwe said he was not aware of the meeting and was in Malindi chairing a Senate seminar on ICT.
“I normally chair all the Nyeri MPs meeting and this time, to be honest, I was not aware of it. My whip, Mr Weru, never alerted me on this,” he said.
Nyeri MCAs who are spending the night in the county assembly chambers on September 1, 2016. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
LAST WEEK'S BRAWL
Last week on Tuesday, the bid to impeach the governor degenerated into a brawl that also affected journalists and staff.
The fight pitted the MCAs allied to Mr Gachagua against those supporting his ejection. A member supporting the county boss was roughed up for his stand.
Chinga Ward Rep Paul Ngiria, who has opposed the Motion, had just driven into the assembly and walked past a group of MCAs, when a war of words erupted.
Kimathi MCA Stephen Mwaniki and his Rugi counterpart, Mr Johnson Njoroge, followed him and grabbed him by his shoulders.
However, Mr Ngiria fought back and asked the other ward reps to leave him alone or he would hurt them.
Some of the Nyeri ward reps during the brawl at the House. PHOTO | GRACE GITAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A scuffle followed when the tirade of words continued and the assembly members started punching one another.
The MCAs held Mr Ngiria, but he tried to punch his way out of their grip, tearing his shirt in the process.
The two House sergeant-at-arms intervened and lifted the MCA in a bid to end the scuffle. When Mukurweini Central MCA Hudson Gicheru noticed that a Nation journalist was taking photos of the fight, he allegedly grabbed her camera and tried to twist her arm to wrest the camera from her.
“Why are you taking photos?’’ he is said to have asked loudly.
Nyeri County Assembly security guards restrain a ward representative involved in a brawl over a motion to impeach Governor Nderitu Gachagua on August 23, 2016. PHOTO | GRACE GITAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The four MCAs risk losing their seats after Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) summoned them on Tuesday.
According to Regional EACC director, Jackson Mue, the four if found to have contravened the law might lose their seats.
The battle for Nyeri governor's seat in next year's elections has been dubbed a battle of billionaires that now has taken an ugly turn as the incumbent faces impeachment a mere eleven months to the vote.
Moreover, an operations paralysis may result after the county's monthly recurrent budge was reduced following the ongoing budget stalemate.
