She 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝ence
By Martin Masai
The Machakos County Assembly has become the epicentre of a political earthquake that now threatens to reshape the region’s power dynamics.
At the centre of it all is Speaker Anne Kiusya, who has transformed from political target to power broker, rallying a critical number of MCAs to halt impeachment and casting herself as the voice of an increasingly independent legislature.
An attempted ouster spearheaded by Governor Wavinya Ndeti—openly backed by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka—is dramatically collapsing.
Kalonzo’s war cry, “Aende akiendanga” (“Let her go, and go for good”), now rings with unintended irony.
Far from being removed, Speaker Kiusya has consolidated her position and publicly embraced a realignment with national leadership under President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
In her own words today at a government function: “I have complied and moved.” The message was unmistakable—she’s left the Wiper camp and now stands with what she calls “a more progressive side.”
Desperate Measures and Committee Games
In a sign of mounting frustration, The Anchor has established that Governor Wavinya, in an unusual and desperate move, has turned her sights on the very institutions meant to protect Assembly’s integrity. Reliable sources confirm that the governor is attempting to activate the Assembly’s Powers and Privileges Committee—ironically chaired by the Speaker herself—to suspend her from office.
This extraordinary turn of events lays bare the raw political brinkmanship underway, with Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka and Deputy Speaker Stephen Mwanthi emerging as central protagonists in what appears to be a last-ditch maneuver to sideline the Speaker through technical procedures.
Yet even this path is riddled with obstacles. With shifting political allegiances and a Speaker who enjoys strong backing from UDA, Maendeleo Chap Chap, most Independents, and even some renegade Wiper MCAs, the Governor’s allies may find themselves isolated, if not politically exposed.
Numbers, Momentum, and the Mood in the House
Wiper still commands 26 MCAs, the largest single party in the Assembly—but the numbers don’t tell the full story. The six UDA MCAs are reportedly shifting towards the Speaker after her State House visit. Almost all Maendeleo Chap Chap’s 16 MCAs, traditionally at odds with Wiper, also appear to be in her corner. Independents, 10 in total, are mostly likely leaning toward Kiusya. Critically, indifference is growing among Wiper’s MCAs who have been standing with Chap Chap MCAs to deny their party the numbers needed to oust Kiusya, weakening Kalonzo and Wavinya’s position.
The attempted impeachment has stalled, and so has momentum to punish the Speaker. What once looked like a surgical removal now resembles a political miscalculation—one that has emboldened the speaker and her supporters rather than weaken her.
From Target to Trailblazer
Speaker Kiusya’s calculated outreach to the national executive will not only shield her from attack but elevate her stature beyond the confines of county politics.
Her meetings with President Ruto and appearances beside Deputy President Kindiki reflect a speaker with rising clout and growing options.
Her survival, and now growing strength, send a powerful message: the Machakos County Assembly is no longer a ceremonial chamber—it’s a force unto itself, with the capability of upsetting Wavinya, and Kalonzo simultaneously.
Kiusya’s defiance has set a precedent, signalling that she will not be bullied into submission by ambitions fueled by thirst for power and millions stolen from county coffers.
Governor and Wiper in Retreat
Governor Wavinya’s credibility has taken a hit, not just from the failed impeachment but also from the perception that she sought to weaponize assembly procedures to corner a political opponent. Kalonzo Musyoka’s direct involvement has also backfired, further undermining Wiper’s traditional dominance in the region.
Instead of isolating Kiusya, they have sparked a movement. What started as an ouster attempt has triggered a wider rebellion—and raised new questions about the future of party loyalty in Ukambani.
A New Era?
Whenever the political dust settles, one outcome is visible: the balance of power in Machakos is shifting. Gone are the days when Kalonzo’s rallying cry became law. Speaker Ann Kiusya, once seen as politically vulnerable, has emerged not just unbroken—but emboldened- courtesy of the Ex Vice President’s dalliance with Wavinya.
Her message is simple and increasingly popular among MCAs: the era of executive intimidation is over. And in its place, a more assertive, more united County Assembly has risen—one that may well serve as a blueprint for others across the country.
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