• Grace Nduta was kicked out of three committees after accusing assembly of laxity
• County legislators leapt to her defence but former woman rep asked them to keep off
Image: Alice Waithera
The suspension of Kanyenya-ini MCA Grace Nduta by the Murang'a county assembly has continued to widen the rift between local leaders.
Nduta was suspended on June 7 after the assembly adopted a report by the Powers and Privileges Committee.
The committee recommended the withdrawal of her privileges, which included her removal from three committees.
This followed some statements she had made on social media that the assembly had failed to hold the county government accountable.
Nduta made the statements as she was contributing to a debate about the state of health facilities in the county following the death of prominent lawyer Joseph Wachira over alleged lack of oxygen and ambulance services.
Her suspension has prompted three MPs, Mary Waithera (Maragua), Betty Maina (Woman Representative) and nominated Senator Veronica Maina to call on the UDA party to intervene and ensure she's reinstated.
The three stormed the assembly two weeks ago, accusing the speaker Johnston Mukuha and majority leader Francis Kibe of misleading the house and claiming Nduta had been unfairly targeted.
And now nominated MP Sabina Chege, who is the former woman representative, has weighed into the debate.
Chege took a swipe at the three women MPs who have been fighting for Nduta, saying MPs should not interfere with the running of the assembly.
She spoke on Saturday, while donating foodstuffs to the needy accompanied in four constituencies during a tour.
Present were MCAs and Trade CS Moses Kuria, in what was viewed by many as a bid to consolidate her support.
The group started at Kimorori grounds in Maragua constituency before proceeding to Kandara, Kigumo and Kiharu constituencies.
MCAs, led by deputy majority leader Elizabeth Mbugua, said Chege had wronged locals for failing to defend the woman representative seat in last year's elections.
Image: Alice Waithera
In an open attack on the current woman representative, the MCAs declared their support for Chege and accused the three women MPs of attempting to interfere with the operations of the assembly.
Early last year, Chege announced that she would not vie for any political seat and would instead focus on national campaigns.
Her efforts were rewarded with her nomination through Jubilee and appointment as deputy minority whip.
Chege, however, said the food donations exercise was her way of giving thanks to locals for their support for her over the years.
She said following her suspension from the National Assembly over chaos that was prompted by speaker Moses Wetangula’s decision to retain her as the deputy minority whip, she used the time to knock on government officials’ doors, seeking food aid for Murang’a residents.
More than 4,000 residents received the food hampers.
“They chased me from the National Assembly and I decided to utilise the time by looking for support for my people. It’s Moses Kuria who heard me and gave me the food donations from his pocket,” she said.
She asked MCAs to embrace unity to effect development that would improve their voters’ lives.
She urged MCAs on the wrong to seek forgiveness and asked the rest of the house to forgive and move forward.
“When there is conflict, it hampers development. MCAs should be working together as a team. Let people quell their differences, it’s okay to commit an offence as long as one does not repeat it.”
Chege’s inroads have left some speculating on which position she will eye in 2027 after her 10-year stint as the woman representative and one term as a nominated MP.
CS Kuria on his part asked the MCA to curse the spirit of divisions that had engulfed the assembly, saying such elongated fights hinder development.
“Local leaders, please let’s work together. That’s the only way we can implement development and support our people,” he said.