MCAs in plot to kick majority leader out

Kiambu county assembly is a special sitting on Saturday to pass the finance bill 2014, the bill was amended and passed unanimously by the members. [PHOTOS BY JOHN KARUME/STANDARD]

Kiambu, Kenya: Kiambu is turning into Mt Kenya's political hotbed with never-ending squabbles affecting smooth operations of the infant county administration.

Recent political machinations and infighting between Governor William Kabogo, a number of county legislators and lately, the political heat caused by the entry into Kiambu politics of former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu, have intensified political competition in the region.

And the latest plot to have the current Assembly Majority Leader Chege Wanjiru removed only adds to the intrigues in Kiambu.

Chege took office barely six months ago, after former Majority Leader Simon Komu was kicked out following accusation that he lacked the goodwill to help MCAs, did not agitate for county government business in the House, and used threatening messages on county staff.

Chege is being accused of having wrong priorities and incompetence but he has vowed to fight back and make sure he retains the office.

MCAs against him claim the ouster bid has nothing to do with his cosy dalliance with Mr Kabogo. Both Chege and Mr Komu have always been in good books with Kabogo hence the threats from the MCAs. So far 46 members have signed in support of removing Wanjiru.

The assembly has 87 members, 60 elected and 27 nominated.

Impeachments are not new to Kiambu. Former Speaker Nick Ndicho, who was Kabogo'a lawyer, was sent packing for alleged embezzlement of public resources. The assembly also unsuccessfully tried to impeach Finance and Planning Executive Mary Nguli and Kabogo himself. But the fractious, bloated assembly has always been a difficult environment to achieve any divisive agenda.

FIVE MEMBERS

Ms Nguli's motion failed after a select committee of five members exonerated her of any wrongdoing while Kabogo's motion failed after it was alleged that five members withdrew their signatures at the last minute, robbing the motion of the required numbers for debate in the House.

James Njenga (Kiambu Town ward) said the group was seeking to end Chege's tenure due to wrong priorities and incompetence.

"The current majority leader is not active at all and this is one of the reasons we want him out of office to be replaced with a person who is equal to the task," said Mr Njenga.

On Monday evening, a number of MCAs held a meeting at Heri Square Lounge in Ruaka where they agreed that the chief whip should convene a meeting in the shortest time possible to discuss the matter.

Komu has accused the chief whip of frustrating the whole process by postponing the signing several times.