By Muya David

Rights Under Siege as County Askaris Arrest Impeachment proponents

Fundamental human rights appear to be under threat in Machakos County as Governor Wavinya Ndeti intensifies efforts to fend off an impeachment motion filed by three citizens.

In a dramatic turn, Henry Kioko Carlos, the lead petitioner in the motion, was on Monday arraigned before a Machakos court on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Carlos, who has been in custody since Friday, is accused of damaging a county vehicle—damage estimated at just KSh 5,000. A second count alleges that he breached the peace by “wailing loudly and attracting public attention,” a charge anchored in the County Governments Act.

Both charges were approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, raising concerns over the independence of prosecutorial decisions in politically sensitive cases.

Carlos, together with co-petitioners Justus Kioko Mweu and Siney Munyako, had been conducting public participation sessions to rally support for the impeachment motion when they were ambushed near Katoloni Market by nearly 40 county enforcement officers. While Mweu and Munyako escaped, Carlos was forcefully apprehended and has remained in custody since.

Questions are now swirling over the role of county askaris in executing what appears to be a police function, with no clear legal basis for their actions.

The impeachment petition, now before the Machakos County Assembly, accuses Governor Wavinya of corruption, abuse of office, embezzlement of public funds, and the exploitation of senior county officials.

In a twist of irony, Wavinya’s allies in the assembly have also filed a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Anne Kiusya, a development that has plunged the county government into deeper turmoil.

As the political battles rage, the arrest and prosecution of a citizen actively engaged in a constitutionally protected oversight process marks a worrying precedent for civic freedoms and democratic accountability in Machakos.