Fate of impeached Machakos Deputy Governor lies with the Senate

Embattled Machakos County Deputy Governor Benard Kiala. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

MACHAKOS COUNTY: The fate of the impeached Machakos County Deputy Governor Benard Kiala now squarely lies in the hands of the Senate.

The local county assembly on Wednesday voted to impeach Dr Alfred Mutua’s deputy over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The motion of impeachment was brought to the house by Mutituni Ward Representative Joseph Kalunde and was endorsed by 40 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) while 19 opposed the move.

On Thursday Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo junior said the Senate will form a committee to deal with the matter according to the laid down procedures.

“The select committee will look into the allegations carefully and if the charges against Kiala are substantiated then the impeachment will be withheld but the Senate will reinstate him if they are not substantiated”, said the Senator.

Speaking to The Standard on telephone, the Makueni Senator hoped the Machakos MCAs were not mischievous adding “we shall catch up with them if there were any political shenanigans”.

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He said impeachment rules for the governors and their deputies were the same since their job description is the same, saying the process is not a simple thing and that impeachment should be the last result.

“The Senate has issued advisory to all Members of the County Assemblies on this matter and there are certain thresholds to be met”, added Mutula junior.

When reached for comment, Kiala claimed there was intense lobbying and bribery which he said is documented.

“Those with huge sums of money carried the day. There is glaring evidence that money changed hands to have me kicked out”, declared Kiala.

The impeached deputy governor said he was ready to be “sacked” but this will not make him withdrawal what he has said about the executive. He said he is ready to appear before the Senate.

Kiala has been embroiled in turf political war with his boss Dr Mutua over alleged high levels of corruption, nepotism and abuse of office by top executive officials.