Sharp divisions emerge in Nakuru County Assembly

Ward representatives shouting on the floor of Nakuru County Assembly on July 11, 2019 after an impeachment motion against Roads executive Lucy Kariuki was adjourned after chaos erupted in the House.  PHOTO | FRANCIS MUREITHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The integrity of the 78- member House was put to test when what started as a lively debate later turned into a shouting match.
  • This is the second impeachment motion to flop since the ward representatives were sworn in office in 2018.   

  • The first impeachment motion against Speaker Joel Maina Kairu flopped last year after failing to attain the mandatory constitutional threshold of 75 per cent support of the MCAs.

  • However, unlike Mr Kairu who survived by a whisker, Ms Kariuki's impeachment motion will be revisited on July 16, 2019. 

Questions have emerged over the sharply divided Nakuru County Assembly's capacity to debate soberly and deliver fair verdicts after an impeachment motion against Roads Executive Lucy Kariuki turned chaotic on Thursday. 

The integrity of the 78- member House was put to test when what started as a lively debate later turned into a shouting contest.

“The integrity of the House has greatly been compromised and it is time the MCAs debated soberly and delivered fair verdicts,” said Mr Joseph Kiarie, a resident of Nakuru town’s Biashara Ward.

This is the second impeachment motion to flop since the ward representatives were sworn in office in 2018.   

The first impeachment motion against Speaker Joel Maina Kairu flopped last year after the House failed to attain the mandatory constitutional threshold of 75 per cent support of the MCAs.

SURVIVED

However, unlike Mr Kairu who survived by a whisker, Ms Kariuki's impeachment motion will be revisited on July 16, 2019. 

Speaker Kairu was forced to invoke standing order 110 (1) to adjourn the motion to next week after the proceedings turned chaotic.

Trouble started when Speaker Kairu ruled that the members vote via a secret ballot. However, this ruling was opposed by ward representatives who were keen to see Ms Kariuki kicked out of office.

The ruling ignited a shouting match in the House, throwing the motion into confusion.

Led by nominated MCAs Zaituni Zainabu, Elizabeth Gichuki, Joyce Anyiso, Anne Mukenyi Kimani, Isabella Makori, Jackline Wangeci Manyara and Susan Njuguna, ward reps danced on the floor of the House as they sang “Lucy must stay! Lucy must stay!

Those supporting the impeachment motion led by Majority Leader and Elementaita MCA Moses Ndung’u Kamau, termed the adjournment illegal.  

SECRET BALLOT

The MCAs supporting the removal of Ms Kariuki demanded that the voting be done by queuing.

Some MCAs started queuing in front of the mace and as the Speaker’s efforts to call the House to order fell on deaf ears, prompting him to adjourn the motion.

As the shouting match intensified, two assembly orderlies grabbed the mace and whisked the Speaker out of the House as Ms Kariuki’s supporters danced on the floor of the House.

“Speaker Kairu has killed this motion and we are not happy,” shouted Mr Kamau.

MCAs led by former Majority Leader Stanley Karanja insisted that the voting should be done by secret ballot.

Former minority leader and Olkaria MCA Peter Palanga supported the removal of Ms Kariuki. He alleged that Ms Kariuki was incompetent and was not fit to hold the docket.

“For us as a county to have sanity and service delivery in this critical docket Ms Kariuki must go home,” said Mr Palanga. Nominated MCA Anne Kimani Mukenyi dismissed the report as witch-hunt and full of lies.

CORRUPTION

“The allegations raised by the select committee do not warrant the removal of Ms Kariuki as she has not been accused of corruption,” said Ms Mukenyi.

Mariashoni MCA Douglas Ayabei alleged that the embattled executive was not equal to the task.

“Let us not lower the bar of integrity because of selfish interests. We must deliver a just verdict and stop defending an officer whose integrity and competence is in doubt,” said Mr Ayabei.

Subukia MCA Mary Waiganjo dismissed the report saying that Ms Kariuki was competent to hold the office.

 “Although Boresha Barabara programme is not scoring good marks, that should not form the basis of her removal, the report is based on fake allegations” said Ms Waiganjo.

Nominated MCA Zaituni Zainabu also dismissed the report and demanded that Ms Kariuki be given a second chance to rectify her mistakes.

“This report is out to victmise Ms Kariuki based on unsubstantiated allegations,” said Ms Zainabu.

REJECTED

Ms Kariuki had been rejected by the assembly’s Appointment Committee led by Speaker Kairu last year. The committee then claimed that she was unfit for the position.

However, after lobbying by some MCAs, she was endorsed. According to the motion, the grounds to remove Ms Kariuki from office was detailed in a 27-page report.

The report stated that Ms Kariuki was incompetent since she had failed to coordinate Boresha Barabara programme.

Boresha Barabara is one of the flagship projects of Governor Lee Kinyanjui that aims at improving dilapidated infrastructure in 55 wards.

“She has failed to offer leadership through bad working relationship with officers in the department,” read part of the report.

Some of the MCAs said that they were facing a hostile crowd at their wards due to unfulfilled promises.

 “I am seen as untrustworthy leader because the elders and the residents in my ward are questioning my suitability to be their leader as many projects have stalled,” said Kiptororo MCA Richard Kurgat Kibet.

LEADERSHIP

 “We are keen to send home Ms Kariuki for failure to offer leadership in the Roads department,” said Dundori ward MCA Michael Machembu.

The Roads executive was also accused of failing to honour committee invitations and interfering with the procurement processes.

Ms Kariuki, a former Kenya Pipeline Engineer, was also accused of disrespecting the MCAs.

However, Ms Kariuki, who appeared before the committee on Wednesday accompanied by her lawyer Collins Akenga, denied all accusations levelled against her.

Ms Kariuki is the first ever executive under Governor Lee Kinyanjui administration to face impeachment motion.

If she is sent home, she will become the second woman executive in Governor Kinyanjui’s administration to be sent packing.

The first woman executive Halima Gababa was sent home by Governor Kinyanjui after a series of complaints over her performance.