Makueni MCAs walk a tightrope as reality of losing seats sinks in

A woman from Makueni County speaks outside Harambee House on November 21, 2014 when residents turned up to hand over their petition to the Office of the President to dissolve their county government. Makueni residents head for Christmas holiday in a political campaign mood as they prepare for the near inevitable return to elections next year. PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI |

What you need to know:

  • The residents have satisfied the constitutional requirements to end the political standoff between Governor Kivutha Kibwana and the county assembly.
  • The political events happening in quick succession have caused panic among MCAs who are being blamed by residents for holding Governor Kibwana’s executive team to ransom.
  • After the verification of the signature roll, President Kenyatta is now expected to appoint a tribunal to hear the people’s petition and recommend dissolution, which will be endorsed by the President after approval by the Senate.

Makueni residents head for Christmas holiday this week in a political campaign mood as they prepare for the near inevitable return to elections next year.

The residents have satisfied the constitutional requirements to end the political standoff between Governor Kivutha Kibwana and the county assembly.

The Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission last week approved the signature roll of the citizens’ petition seeking to dissolve the county assembly.

The wrangles have affected delivery of services and infrastructure projects have ground to a halt. Some of the projects that have stalled include a fruit processing plant, Emali bus park, award of bursaries, and regulation of sand harvesting because the assembly is still sitting on the necessary laws.

The political events happening in quick succession have caused panic among MCAs who are being blamed by residents for holding Governor Kibwana’s executive team to ransom.

MAKUENI DISSOLUTION
A spot-check established that some of the ward reps are busy campaigning in their respective wards.

The MCAs, who impeached Prof Kibwana two months ago, failed to persuade him to halt the signature collection.

They are a worried lot because they will be seeking re-election in a charged political environment where they are seen as the aggressors in the dispute.

Worse still, most of them obtained bank loans to buy cars, houses and their properties may be attached to recover the loans.

After the verification of the signature roll, President Kenyatta is now expected to appoint a tribunal to hear the people’s petition and recommend dissolution, which will be endorsed by the President after approval by the Senate.

If approved, the petition will see Makueni County become the first county under the new Constitution to be dissolved.

The residents invoked Article 192 of the Constitution that allows the President to suspend a county government in an emergency arising from internal conflict, war or in any other exceptional circumstances.

NO COMPETITION

Prof Kibwana’s quest for re-election received a major boost this week after former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka announced that Wiper Party will not field a candidate against Prof Kibwana.

Speaking in Wote during the burial of former director of immigration Frank Kwinga, Mr Musyoka, who was accompanied by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and several MPs, said he would campaign for Governor Kibwana if all avenues for dialogue fail.

But Mr Musyoka’s decision to endorse Prof Kibwana of the Muungano party puts Mr Kilonzo and other Wiper MPs in an awkward position and it will be interesting to see if they will toe the party line.

MPs opposed to Prof Kibwana’s leadership including Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Dr Patrick Musimba (Kibwezi West) and Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni) have been rooting for former Kaiti MP Gideon Ndambuki to run against him on a Wiper ticket.

Earlier, Mr Maanzo told journalists that they will only support the governor’s re-election if he joins Wiper.