By Anchor Special Correspondent
The impeachment motion against Kitui County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Peter Kilonzo, collapsed on a technicality after Wiper Party-nominated MCA Jacqueline Kalenga declined to second it.
Observers believe Kalenga was instructed by the party to shoot the motion down at the penultimate moment. It is consistent with Wiper’s initial instructions to nominated MCAs not to support the impeachment process – an indication that the party has no obligations to pursue the oversight responsibility of the assembly it has control over.
The motion, tabled during a Kitui County Assembly plenary session on Tuesday, was presented by Jeremiah Mutua, the chairman of a special committee investigating Kilonzo’s removal. Mutua’s committee had substantiated most of the allegations against Kilonzo, which included violations of the constitution, abuse of office, incompetence, and gross misconduct. The initial motion to investigate Kilonzo had been moved by Kiomo/Kyethani MCA Antony Musyoka on December 4.
Despite acknowledging that 90 percent of the grounds for impeachment were valid, Kalenga, who served as the committee’s vice-chair, opted not to second the motion.
Her decision rendered the impeachment motion null and void, and it died suddenly.
Standing orders require a seconder for the motion to proceed as soon as it is moved, and Kalenga was nowhere to rise to the occasion. Consequently, Speaker Kevin Katisya ruled that the motion stood withdrawn.
Kalenga defended her stance, urging members to forgive Kilonzo and quoting the Kiswahili proverb: “Kosa si kosa, kosa ni kurudia kosa,” meaning one should only be punished for repeated mistakes. She suggested that Kilonzo deserved a second chance.
The Speaker’s ruling was met with jubilation from MCAs opposed to the impeachment. They broke into song and dance inside the chambers before moving their celebrations outside, where they were joined by Kilonzo.
Addressing the press after the aborted motion, Kilonzo expressed gratitude, emphasizing that while MCAs had the right to hold CECs accountable, such powers should be exercised objectively, without personal vendettas. He described the grounds against him as largely administrative and not warranting impeachment, stating, “One should not use a hammer to kill a fly.”
His lawyer, Musyoki Kimanzi, argued that the failure of the motion to secure a seconder absolved Kilonzo of any wrongdoing. Kimanzi added that the impeachment attempt, though unsuccessful, had served as a valuable learning experience for his client, who now understood the expectations placed upon him.
With the impeachment behind him, Kilonzo pledged to redouble his efforts to serve the people of Kitui diligently.
