By Anchor Correspondent
Activist Manthi Seeks Jail Term for Assembly Clerk, MCAs
The High Court in Machakos has issued fresh directives in a fast-developing contempt of court case filed by activist Wilfred Manthi Musyoka against the Clerk of the Machakos County Assembly, several Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), and the Assembly itself.
The case—HCCHRPET/E012/2025, lodged under a certificate of urgency—accuses the respondents of violating interim court orders issued on April 2, 2025, meant to protect Speaker Anne Kiusya (named as the Interested Party) from political interference and intimidation in her official role.
Court documents specifically isolate Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka, Deputy speaker Mr Stephen Mwanthi, Minority Leader Judas Ndawa, and Matungulu West MCA Lucky Munuve for contempt proceedings and therefore liable for 6 months imprisonment.
According to court documents, Lady Justice Rhoda Rutto, on April 15, 2025, certified the matter as urgent and granted prayer 2 of the petitioner’s application.
This allows the activist to serve the application on all respondents, including individual MCAs named in prayer 3, by close of business on April 16, 2025.
Justice Rutto also directed the respondents to file and serve their responses within seven days, with the petitioner allowed to respond via a further affidavit within three days, if necessary. The court scheduled the matter for further directions or orders on April 30, 2025.
The judge appended a Penal Notice, warning all respondents that failure to comply with the court’s orders would attract penal consequences.
Musyoka’s petition stems from events that unfolded at the County Assembly on April 8, 2025, when the Clerk and a group of MCAs allegedly disrupted House proceedings, blocked the House Business Committee from sitting, and subjected Speaker Kiusya to threats and intimidation—forcing her to lock herself in her chambers.
The activist also accuses the MCAs of deploying what he termed as “hired goons” to storm the Assembly while chanting anti-Speaker slogans. Further defiance came when Matungulu West MCA Lucky Raphael Nzau filed a motion seeking Speaker Kiusya’s removal—despite an active court order restraining such actions.
Musyoka is asking the court to commit the Clerk and the implicated MCAs to civil jail for contempt, arguing their conduct undermines the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
The ongoing turmoil further exposes the fragile state of governance in Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration, which is already under pressure from internal divisions, high-profile resignations, and an ongoing probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The Anchor will continue to track this unfolding story, with the next court session set for April 30, 2025.
