Nyamu Kagwima under siege as reps plot to impeach him

Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki (left) and his deputy Mr Nyamu Kagwima in a past event. The two differed sharply over allocation of resources in the 2018/19 budget. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • MCAs riled by the deputy governor criticism over their foreign trips.
  • Mr Nyamu Kagwima also criticised ward reps, accusing them of passing skewed budget.

Tharaka-Nithi Deputy Governor Nyamu Kagwima is under siege from ward representatives who are threatening to impeach him for “continued attack” on them and alleged failure to do his job.

Addressing media in Chuka town on Tuesday, majority leader who is also the Karingani ward representative Godfrey Murithi said 12 MCAs have appended their signatures to the impeachment motion and will soon be tabling it in the assembly.

Mr Murithi accused Mr Kagwima of interfering with their work by criticising their foreign trips.

BUDGET ROW

He added that the deputy governor has also wrongly accused them of passing a ‘skewed’ Sh4.6 billion budget.

Mr Murithi said the e assembly is not happy with how Mr Kagwima who also heads the Trade docket used Sh15 million allocated for buying green grams from farmers.

“We want explanation why farmers are complaining that the county is not buying their produce as promised and yet we approved the money,” he said.

The assembly’s minority leader Wilson Nyaga, who is also the Muthambi ward representative, said they are fed up with Mr Kagwima and are ready to send him home.

“We want another sober person from Tharaka constituency to replace Mr Kagwima,” said Mr Nyaga.

COUNTER-ACCUSATION

In press briefing at Chuka town on Monday, Mr Kagwima accused Tharaka Nithi County Assembly Speaker David Mbaya and Mr Murithi of poor use of Sh125 million allocated for construction of an assembly building, bursary and emergency fund.

Mr Kagwima said the funds were reverted to the National Treasury because of the duos laxity.

“This county has failed because of Speaker Mbaya and MCA Murithi, and both should step down,” said Mr Kagwima.

But the Speaker said anti-graft detectives have been investigating the procurement of the Sh360 million tender for the assembly building.

“Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) stopped any payment for the construction of the building until it is done with the ongoing investigations and that is why we were not able to pay even the agreed Sh36 million which is 10 percent of the Sh360 million,” said Mr Mbaya.

On bursary and emergency funds, he said the assembly was in the process of drafting law to govern their use.

“In about a month’s time, we will have a law to govern the use of the money and needy students will benefit from next term,” he said.

Speaking to the Nation on phone, EACC eastern region coordinator Ignatius Wekesa said he had summoned Mr Kagwima at his office in Isiolo in connection to the Sh100 million for the assembly building.