Quorum hitch feared in Governor Alfred Mutua removal bid

The law requires at least two-thirds majority vote by MCAs to validate the impeachment of a sitting governor. In the case of Machakos, at least 39 MCAs out of the total of 59 must vote to impeach the county chief in today’s motion.PHOTO: COURTESY

An impeachment motion against Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua scheduled for today may hit a snag.

This was after it emerged that a majority of MCAs had been flown to Tanzania ostensibly to deny the debate a quorum.

The Standard reliably learnt 31 MCAs allied to Dr Mutua had made a trip to the neighbouring country in anticipation of today’s motion.

The notice for the motion was tabled last week by Ndalani MCA Stephen Muthuka.

The law requires at least two-thirds majority vote by MCAs to validate the impeachment of a sitting governor. In the case of Machakos, at least 39 MCAs out of the total of 59 must vote to impeach the county chief in today’s motion.

But given the scenario, the motion may not be debated considering only 28 MCAs are available.

Yesterday, Ikombe MCA Nathaniel Nganga, who has been in the forefront of the push to have Mutua removed claimed the 31 MCAs had each been paid Sh500, 000 and their flights and sustenance catered for by the county government. He however did not provide any evidence.

 “The remaining 27 of us will prosecute the motion tomorrow (today) because the issues involved are incriminating,” said Nganga who is also the county assembly deputy speaker.

 And asked if the alleged trip to Tanzania had been sanctioned by the assembly, he explained: “They should have been given leave after notifying the speaker but you know he (speaker) is part of the system.”

NO INVITATION LETTERS

The MCA claimed that had his colleagues gone on an official duty, they would have had invitation letters approved by both the Ministry of Devolution and that of Foreign Affairs which, he said was not the case.

“We are recommending that the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission investigates them because a common travel agency paid for the travel,” he said.

But Mr Muthuka vowed to proceed with the Motion today.

Muthuka had accused Mutua of presiding over a corrupt government, and failing to adhere to procurement procedures.

Reached for comment, Mutua denied having sponsored any trip to Tanzania, and instead claimed those rooting for his impeachment had been bribed by some senior politicians in Ukambani.

 “That is not true because it is not the obligation of the county government to sponsor trips for the assembly,” Mutua said through his press secretary Mutinda Mwanzia.

When the standard tried to call a number of MCAs said to have travelled to Tanzania to get their side of the story, the ring-back tone suggested they were out of the country.