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In October 2016, 46 MCAs out of the 59 had appended their signatures on a motion supporting Mutua’s impeachment. The plan hit a wall after MCAs who had earlier signed up to support an impeachment motion against the governor mysteriously withdrew their signatures from the document.
A month later, in November, the motion tabled at Machakos County Assembly to impeach Mutua started on a low note after 31 MCAs failed to turn up at the chambers. Only 28 MCAs attended the session.
The absence of the 31 was clearly seen as a tactic to deny the motion the requisite number to remove the governor from office.
Unconfirmed reports indicated the MCAs who did not attend the session had taken a Sh20 million trip to Tanzania. The reason for the trip was unspecifi ed.
Deputy Speaker Nathaniel Ng’ang’a told the media that the MCAs did not notify the assembly that they would be taking leave from proceedings.
Ndalani MCA Stephen Muthuka who moved the motion listed numerous grounds for removing Mutua from office. Issues raised touched on violation of the Constitution, procurement laws and the County Government Act.
Thirty-nine members of the assembly were required to be in the assembly to meet the quorum for the impeachment motion against Mutua to pass. The motion didn’t pass.
Born on August 22, 1970, Mutua won the Machakos gubernatorial race riding on a Wiper Democratic Movement ticket.
He grew up in Nairobi’s Kibera slums, living inside a timber house. Mutua obtained his BA in journalism from Whitworth College in the United States and his MSc in Communication from Eastern Washington University. He received his doctorate in communication and media from the University of Western Sydney in Australia.
Between 2004 and 2012, Mutua held the position of the Government Spokesperson and Public Communications Secretary. Prior to his appointment, Mutua served as an assistant professor in the College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University in Dubai.
The fact that Mutua has politicians from across the country seeking gubernatorial and legislative seats on his Maendeleo Chap Chap party lends credence to rumours that he intends to run for higher office after 2022
