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By Dennis Mwikya

Governor Wavinya Accused of Orchestrating Takeover Bid

The Machakos County Assembly descended into chaos yesterday as a vicious power struggle over the fate of Speaker Anne Kiusya erupted into violent confrontations, forcing the indefinite suspension of the Assembly.

What began as a tense standoff quickly spiraled into a full-blown melee, with rival MCAs exchanging blows in dramatic scenes reminiscent of a political battlefield.

At the center of the turmoil is an aggressive push by Governor Wavinya Ndeti to oust Speaker Kiusya—a move critics say is part of a broader scheme to tighten her grip on the Assembly and silence dissent.

The Assembly had barely resumed business after a month-long recess when MCAs aligned with the Governor, led by Machakos Central MCA Nicholas Nzioka, stormed Speaker Kiusya’s office, demanding she vacate the premises.

They insisted she had no authority to preside over any session while impeachment proceedings—despite being halted by court order—remained pending.

But the Speaker’s defenders, led by Mua Ward MCA Francis Ngunga, were ready. A fierce confrontation erupted between the rival factions, escalating into a chaotic brawl that left several MCAs injured.

Majority Whip Raphael Nzau was rushed to hospital with heavy bleeding, while Nzioka and Deputy Speaker Stephen Mwanthi sustained minor injuries in the scuffles outside Kiusya’s office.

Security forces were called in to contain the fracas as tensions reached a boiling point. Amid the turmoil, Speaker Kiusya was quickly ushered into her office under heavy guard, where she remained locked in for the rest of the day, fearing for her safety.

The violent scenes came just days after the High Court in Machakos issued an order suspending debate on the Speaker’s impeachment until April 30, pending submissions from all interested parties. But defiant pro-impeachment MCAs appeared to circumvent the ruling by introducing a fresh motion—one critics argue is a rehash of the earlier one nullified by the court.

“The same MCAs are pushing the same allegations, only changing the date on the motion,” Ngunga told reporters outside the Assembly. “This is a clear violation of the court’s directive and a blatant attempt to undermine the rule of law.”

The Speaker, in a formal communication to the House, announced the suspension of all plenary and committee sittings until further notice, citing serious security concerns for MCAs, Assembly staff, and herself. She also froze all official local and international travel by Assembly members.

Observers say the ongoing chaos is symptomatic of a deeper power play by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, who is accused of seeking total control of the county legislature. By ousting Speaker Kiusya—seen as independent-minded and not easily swayed—Wavinya’s allies hope to consolidate power and neutralize internal resistance to her administration.

For now, the Machakos County Assembly remains a political tinderbox—its halls of debate silenced by violence, and its future hanging in the balance.

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SIDEBAR: Who is Anne Kiusya?
The Speaker at the Center of the Storm

Anne Kiusya, a trained lawyer and seasoned civil servant, was elected Speaker of the Machakos County Assembly in 2022 with backing from a coalition of MCAs across party lines. Known for her assertiveness and impartiality, she has repeatedly clashed with Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration over legislative independence and fiscal oversight.

Kiusya has built a reputation as a defender of the Assembly’s autonomy, frequently pushing back against executive overreach. Her stance has earned her both admirers and powerful adversaries.

Sources within the Assembly say her refusal to rubber-stamp executive agendas—and her growing influence among a cross-section of MCAs—has increasingly put her at odds with the Governor’s loyalists, who now seek her removal in what is widely seen as a political purge.

Despite mounting pressure, Kiusya has vowed to stand her ground, declaring in a recent statement that “the Assembly must remain a house of reason, not intimidation.”

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