Machakos Speaker faces impeachment over misconduct, abuse of office

Machakos County Assembly Speaker, Ann Kiusya, is facing possible impeachment after 33 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) signed a motion seeking her removal from office.

The motion, tabled by Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka-who also represents Machakos Central Ward-cites gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and incompetence as grounds for her ouster.

Central to the allegations is the Speaker's handling of the March 12, 2025, plenary session, during which a report on the recruitment of the fourth and fifth members of the County Assembly Public Service Board was adopted. Nzioka claims the report was passed without a quorum, accusing Kiusya of misleading the House.

"Based on parliamentary practice, reports must first be filed with the Board, which may then submit them to the Assembly. Adopting the report without a quorum constitutes pure incompetence and a gross violation of the County Assembly Services Act," said Nzioka.

Additional accusations include the irregular hiring of a staff member without advertisement or Board approval, contravening Article 232 of the Constitution which requires fair competition and merit-based recruitment.

Kiusya is also being probed over claims of misusing public funds to facilitate a foreign trip for her daughter to the UAE and the UK, allegedly without official justification.

"The Speaker altered the approved travel requisition to include her daughter. Although she was authorized to travel in Business Class, she downgraded to Economy Class so both could travel using the same tickets," the motion claims.

The impeachment motion is expected to trigger a heated debate within the Assembly in the coming days.