By Anchor Writer

Bribery  and political maneuvering took center stage at the Machakos County Assembly as Governor Wavinya Ndeti sought to influence the composition of the County Assembly Service Board (CASB).

At the heart of the controversy was the nomination of Alex Kitavi and Fiona Syokau Mutua to the board, following a selection process involving eight applicants.

Notably, Lucas Wewa, the governor’s alleged preferred candidate, failed to make to the final list of two. Wewa, an active employee of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Machakos KNUT Executive Secretary, was reportedly Wavinya’s top choice for the fourth member slot, a position designated for a male nominee, while the fifth seat is reserved for a woman.

During the selection process, outgoing CASB member Alex Nyamai Kitili, who Wavinya sought to replace, defended his seat and scored 78.5 percent—the highest among male applicants.

Wewa, despite her reported backing and his encumberences notwithstanding, scored 78 marks and fell short entering the final contest.

On the women’s side, Fiona Syokau Mutua outperformed the incumbent, Janet Kimeu, securing her nomination.

The results triggered a political storm within the assembly. Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka lobbied MCAs to reject the motion confirming Kitavi and Fiona ostensibly because Wewa had failed to make it.

This lobbying effort was  accompanied by bribery, with some MCAs allegedly receiving KES 20,000 each to vote against the motion.

MCA Brian Kisila openly confirmed receiving the money from Nzioka, a claim the Majority Leader dismissed, arguing that he had previously sent Kisila money via M-Pesa for other reasons. “Can he confirm that I have been coercing him whenever I have sent him money?” Nzioka asked in his defense.

Further allegations surfaced that MCAs were promised an additional KES 30,000 if they photographed their ballots as proof of compliance. A voice recording, captured in an assembly YouTube livestream, claimed the payouts were to be made at the office of the Deputy Governor. The footage was later pulled down.

The disputed vote is seen as part of Governor Wavinya’s broader political strategy to weaken Speaker Anne Kiusya’s influence within the assembly or terrorise her to an extent that she would always dissalow any unfavorable vote in the assembly.

Observers see the strategy as a survival tactic for the governor whose fortunes in office are dodged by claims of grand corruption, incompetence, and  outright theft of public resources.

The controversy follows an earlier, unsuccessful attempt by Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka to remove the CASB Vice Chairman MCA Felix Ngui and replace him with MCA Winnifred Mutua, a close ally of Kalonzo.

The political wrangling also affected the confirmation of Wayua Munyaka as Machakos County’s new Water and Irrigation Minister. Despite scoring 62 percent—above the required 60 percent threshold—her approval became entangled in the CASB dispute.

Some MCAs opposed her appointment, arguing that she had admitted during vetting that she was unfamiliar with the Water Act.

Wayua, a former director at Tanathi Water Services Board and wife of former Machakos Town MP Dr. Victor Munyaka, will assume the role after two previous nominees declined the position for undisclosed reasons.