By Martin Masai
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti is facing a daunting challenge in her bid to remove County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya, as political dynamics within the assembly and the larger Wiper Party complicate her efforts.
Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka tabled the motion to impeach Speaker Kiusya, backed by 33 out of the 59 MCAs.
Notwithstanding the odds she faces, Governor Ndeti is pushing forward with the motion with its proponents going into a retreat in preparation for the vote.
Sources tell The Anchor that the motion could be placed on the order paper for debate on Monday.
To impeach the speaker, Wavinya requires 45 votes required to meet the two-thirds threshold. The assembly is deeply divided that even Wiper MCAs are reluctant to rally behind her disastrous move.
With over 20 MCAs having not signed the notice, insiders—including sources close to Wavinya—suggest that securing the necessary numbers may be nearly impossible.
The move to oust the Speaker has faced resistance from within Wiper Party ranks, including party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He has reportedly advised against the motion, warning that it could destabilize the party’s grip on the county assembly.
Many stakeholders believe that if an impeachment was to be considered, it should target Governor Wavinya herself, whose administration has been criticized for inefficiency—most notably during her last appearance before the Senate Public Accounts Committee.
Additionally, procedural concerns cast doubt on the legitimacy of the impeachment process. The law dictates a clear hierarchy for presiding over assembly proceedings. The problem arises from the fact that key signatories of the motion—including the Deputy Speaker and another senior member—are also in line to preside over the impeachment debate. This raises serious governance and conflict-of-interest concerns, as it calls into question whether the Speaker would receive a fair hearing.
Furthermore, opposition MCAs from the Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party—who did not sign the motion—could leverage the situation to challenge Wiper’s leadership in the assembly. Their preferred candidate, former Speaker Benson Mungatta, remains a strong contender should the current leadership be destabilized.
Several MCAs who spoke to The Anchor cited three grievances that Governor Wavinya reportedly holds against Speaker Kiusya. The first is the Speaker’s insistence on summoning county executive members for questioning, particularly Finance CECM Onesmus Kuyu. The second is her failure to push for the appointment of Wavinya’s preferred candidate, Juda Wewa, to the County Assembly Service Board. The third is her reluctance to approve unqualified individuals nominated by the governor.
However, critics argue that these grievances lack merit. Notably, when Speaker Kiusya was unwell last week, the Majority Leader led the vetting process for Water Minister nominee Veronica Munyaka. Sources indicate that Munyaka initially scored 22 percent but had her marks altered to 62 percent before her approval—raising concerns about the integrity of the process. A dissenting report has since been presented to the Speaker, challenging the altered results.
With mounting opposition from within her party and procedural obstacles in the assembly, Governor Wavinya’s quest to remove Speaker Kiusya faces an uphill battle. The motion not only threatens to divide the Wiper Party but also exposes underlying tensions regarding governance and accountability in Machakos County. As the political maneuvering unfolds, all eyes will be on how the assembly handles the motion and whether Wavinya can rally enough support to achieve her objective.
