Why Assembly impeached Alfred Mutua’s deputy

Mchakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and his deputy Bernard Kiala. Machakos County Assembly Speaker Bernard Mungata Thursday defended the move by county representatives to impeach the Deputy Governor. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kiala was impeached on allegations of insubordination to Governor Alfred Mutua, nepotism and abuse of office among other grounds.
  • Mr Kiala told the Nation he had expected the outcome but was confident of a fair hearing in the Senate.
  • Earlier lawyer James Orengo had gone to the High Court in Machakos seeking to block the censure motion against Mr Kiala.

Machakos County Assembly Speaker Bernard Mungata Thursday defended the move by county representatives to impeach the Deputy Governor.

In an interview, Mr Mungata said the report presented in the House had numerous grounds justifying Mr Bernard Kiala’s impeachment.

“The voting was based on the final report tabled in the House. The threshold to impeach the Deputy Governor was met,” said Mr Mungata.

Machakos County Assembly has 59 members of which 40 voted to send Mr Kiala home.

FAIR HEARING

Mr Mungata added the final report would be sent to the Senate where the matter will be dealt with before the end of the week. The Senate will consider the matter and set up a committee to investigate Mr Kiala, if it establishes that the report has merit.

Mr Kiala was impeached on allegations of insubordination to Governor Alfred Mutua, nepotism and abuse of office among other grounds.

Mr Kiala told the Nation he had expected the outcome but was confident of a fair hearing in the Senate.

“The motion is clearly sponsored by the Machakos Government and I did not expect the Assembly to give me a fair hearing. I was never called to appear before the committee at any one point,” he added.

The motion was tabled in the assembly last week and a committee tasked with the responsibility of generating a report in seven days.

The Secretary to the Ad Hoc Committee Leonard Katela however said the committee had invited Mr Kiala to appear before it but he chose to send his lawyer instead.

“We gave the lawyer who appeared all the documents for the report but since they were trying to stop the impeachment in court, they did not present anything to the committee,” he added.

Earlier lawyer James Orengo had gone to the High Court in Machakos seeking to block the censure motion against Mr Kiala.