• However, Minority leader and Ngenda Ward MCA Joe Kigara told the Star that the move to collect the signatures was not sanctioned by any party.
• Kigara emphasised that the move is not supported by any member of the minority party and they will not endorse it as it is not a collective decision.
Image: AMOS NJAU
Members of Kiambu County Assembly are divided over the recent move by Kahawa Sukari MCA Kennedy Odhiambo to collect signatures for the impeachment of Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
The MCA has accused Wamatangi of massive corruption and gross violation of the law as well as working as a lone ranger.
Speaking to the Star, Kennedy Odhiambo (Jubilee) said he has collected more than 3,000 signatures from members of the public in Kiambu.
He claimed he has received death threats after he publicly announced the process and urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to intervene.
"Yes, it's true I have initiated the process of signature collection to impeach Wamatangi, and already 3,000 signatures have been collected from the public," Odhiambo said.
He explained that the signature collection forms are divided into two categories: one for the MCAs themselves and the other for the Kiambu electorate.
However, Odhiambo said MCAs have not yet signed their forms as they await the appointment of a majority leader pending resolution of a court case.
"I'm the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and I can authoritatively state that there is massive corruption in Kiambu County that should be investigated," Odhiambo asserted.
He also accused the governor of violating the Constitution by showing disrespect to the assembly tasked with overseeing the budget and expenditure, citing the governor's failure to nominate a substantive county leadership team.
He further claimed that Wamatangi has violated the Constitution by disrespecting the assembly that oversights the budget and expenditure as he has failed to nominate substantive county leadership team.
However, Minority Leader and Ngenda Ward MCA Joe Kigara told the Star that the move to collect the signatures was not sanctioned by any party and it's MCA Odhiambo's personal initiative.
Kigara emphasised that the move is not supported by any member of the minority party and they will not endorse it as it is not a collective decision.
"The move by Kahawa Sukari MCA is personal and it’s not sanctioned by any member of the minority party, he is chasing fame and clout,” Kigara said.
Nominated MCA Rahab Mwaura (Tujibebe) concurred with Kigara saying while she had seen the signature collection forms circulating online, the move to impeach the governor does not represent a united stance by all the MCAs in the assembly.
"I have heard of the forms being distributed and circulating online for the collection of signatures, but I can assure you, it's not a collective move by all MCAs," Mwaura remarked.
Kamburu Ward MCA Samuel Mbeere, (Independent) also, echoed Kigara’s sentiments, deeming Kennedy Odhiambo's motion to impeach Wamatangi as unrealistic and personal.
He noted that the process lacked the involvement and consultation of assembly members and he expressed doubt about its authenticity.
"I saw the forms on social media but I don’t think it’s real as the pusher of the motion and signature hasn’t consulted the team involved and again, it should have been secretive if it was a serious thing," he said.
Wamatangi has been facing off with the MCAs who accuse him of being a dictator and a lone ranger.
Two days ago, Kiambu MCAs urged residents not to pay any license fees or levies to the county government, citing absence of legal authorization for the charges.
More than 48 MCAs staged a walkout during the presentation of the 2023-24 Finance Bill, alleging that the executive had neglected the development of Kiambu residents despite the approval of the 2022-23 Finance Act.
Kijabe MCA Stephen Nyutu emphasised the assembly's unanimous decision to block the Finance Bill, asserting that the county government's collection of funds was illegal without proper legislation.
"Right now, every coin being collected by the Kiambu government is illegal since there is no law in place passed by the assembly to collect the monies," Nyutu said.
Limuru East MCA Macharia Wambui concurred, highlighting the importance of their oversight role to ensure that Kiambu residents receive value for their money.
He said their role of oversighting the county government is paramount as Kiambu people are not receiving value for their money.
Earlier in the week, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo implored Wamatangi to foster unity with members of the County Assembly.
Kabogo stressed the critical need for a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislature for the benefit of the Kiambu electorate.
"Wamatangi should unite with MCAs and serve for the good of the electorate of Kiambu who elected them into office," Kabogo insisted.