Waititu under siege as MCAs kick out plot to impeach him

Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu is not yet done with his woes. Whilst anti-graft agency investigates him for graft allegations, County’s bizarre budget seems to be haunting him still.

In what seems to be a new scheme by Kiambu Members of County Assembly, Waititu might be impeached before mid next year. 

His close allies are now staring at an oust after 60 MCAs signed a petition of a vote of no confidence against the assembly speaker Stephen Ndichu and his deputy Philip Mubea (Cianda MCA), believed to be Waititu’s close confidants.

“It is not a witch hunt since everyone can see how people in Kiambu are suffering because of corruption, incompetence, nepotism and outright stealing,” Ruiru Biashara MCA Elijah Njoroge was quoted by a local daily.

According to one of the local dailies, the move to impeach Waititu is being supported by his critics in the assembly, former rivals in the last polls and opinion leaders in Kiambu.

Among the issues raised by EACC and DCI include poor services, land grabbing, corruption and outright theft of public resources. It is believed that investigative entities are planning major arrests after a series of interrogations.

In the well-crafted scheme, polls were conducted at the county assembly on Monday to replace committee officials allied to speaker Ndichu. 

Those ejected include majority leader Anthony Ikonya (Kiambu Township) and his deputy Alex Kabuu (Kiganjo). 

Others are chief whip James Mburu (Mwiki) and his deputy Margaret Gatonye. The MCAs also said the committees were being used by the executive to kill the independence of the county assembly. 

“We are not looking into fighting the governor but he must be accountable and allow oversight to be done,” newly elected majority leader Gideon Gachara said.

He added that the newly elected officials want to audit and scrutinise county projects as well as hold relevant officials responsible.

Critics were warned that they were arrogant, suppressed oversight duties and ran the assembly without consulting other MCAs.

“The chief whip must stand firm with the independence of the house and let MCAs do their oversight role. We will clean up the assembly and executive to get the right leaders to lead our people,” Njoroge said.

“Things are not good here. We can see people resigning and others sacked, money being allocated for peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and payments for retired presidents among others yet we had leaders in charge.”

This comes two weeks after the MCAs failed to attend a bonding meeting organised by the county’s top hierarchy at a Ruiru hotel.