Kalonzo meets MCAs ahead of Ngilu impeachment debate

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka met a section of MCAs from Kitui County ahead of next week’s debate on the impeachment of Governor Charity Ngilu, his long-time political rival. 

The weekend meeting at the home of Mwingi central MP Gideon Mulyungi at Kalisasi village discussed the impeachment motion.

Journalists who arrived as Mr Musyoka was concluding his speech around midday on Saturday were turned away and warned against reporting on Wiper party’s house-keeping matters.

Earlier while distributing foodstuff to dancers and artistes drawn from Mwingi Central, Mwingi North and Mwingi West constituencies, the former Vice President warned MCAs against disloyalty to the party.

“I am aware that Kitui MCAs want to impeach Governor Ngilu, I don’t want to be dragged into their Assembly business but it is important for Wiper MCAs to respect the party position and speak with one voice,” he said.

The relief food distribution exercise by Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation to the artistes was conducted at the MP’s residence.

The Wiper leader was accompanied by Senators Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Boniface Kabaka (Machakos) and MPs Mr Mulyungi and his Mwingi north counterpart Malili Nzengu.

His remarks were widely taken as a veiled attempt to whip his party MCAs into passing the impeachment motion against Governor Ngilu once the Assembly convenes next week.

According to an MCA who was at the meeting but requested anonymity, the governor’s impeachment provides a chance for Mr Musyoka’s Mwingi home region to hold the office for the remaining term. Ms Ngilu’s deputy, Dr Wathe Nzau, comes from Mwingi Central.

The Wiper MCA said their party leader had endorsed plans by Majority leader and Athi ward MCA Peter Kilonzo to impeach Governor Ngilu.

The closed-door meeting also discussed plans to re-constitute the Assembly committees and weed out MCAs deemed disloyal to the party.

TARGETED FOR REMOVAL

Coincidentally, Deputy Speaker Kasee Musya -- who has been critical of Wiper party leadership and who voted in support of the Governor’s county public service board nominees -- is among those targeted for removal.

A draft order paper seen by the Nation and which was generated yesterday by the House Business Committee chaired by Speaker George Ndotto lists the removal of Mr Musya as Chair of chairs as part of the agenda for the Assembly’s plenary sittings from June 29.

Other matters on the agenda include the governor’s impeachment and the annual 2020-2021 budget.

Since her election in 2017, Ms Ngilu has lamented that Wiper MCAs have been using their numerical strength in the Assembly, allegedly at the behest of Mr Musyoka, to frustrate her development agenda for Kitui people.

She alleges that his motive is to ensure she doesn’t deliver anything for the electorate ahead of the 2022 election.

Last week, Ms Ngilu's Narc party started the process of collecting signatures to petition President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve the county.

She accused the Wiper party leadership of sponsoring political squabbles and sanctioning unending political wrangles between the County Assembly and the Executive to frustrate her.

“I am ready to answer all the false allegations levelled against me in that motion and prove to the world that theirs is nothing but a political vendetta because I don’t belong to their party” said Ms Ngilu.