Concerns over MCAs defiance of courts as a wave of impeachments hits counties

Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) are yet again on the spot for defying court orders with impunity and embarking on an impeachment spree, targeting speakers and county executive members.

In Homa Bay County, MCAs roughed up Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo and kicked her out of office, barely 24 hours after the Labour Relations Court ordered her reinstatement.

The MCAs who by a majority had kicked her out last month, stormed her office in defiance of the court order claiming that her stay was no longer tenable.

The MCAs further alleged that she had integrity issues and was responsible for the chaos witnessed in the assembly last month, leading to the loss of the mace, the assembly’s symbol of authority.

A contingent of law enforcers called in to calm down the situation outnumbered by the rowdy MCAs, prompting the deployment of a backup team that kicked out the ward bosses out of Ayoo’s office.

A similar standoff ensued in Machakos County where 33 county assembly members voted to oust Deputy Governor Francis Maliti from the finance docket.

The MCAs accused Maliti of gross violation of the Constitution and incompetence.

The motion moved by Matungulu East MCA Cosmas Ngula Masesi and seconded by his Kangundo Central counterpart Moses Mitaa, claimed Maliti lacked the requisite qualifications to head the county purse, with Governor Alfred Mutua being accused of appointing a deputy without qualifications.

But 26 MCAs allied to Mutua’s Maendeleo Chap Chap Party, boycotted the house sitting, and termed Maliti’s impeachment an illegality.

The Governor, through his press secretary Mutinda Mwanzia claimed his deputy’s censure was a well-choreographed script to stall his administration’s operations through blackmail.

In Nyandarua County, the assembly’s operations were paralysed for the second day this week, after a section of MCAs were blocked from accessing the chambers.

The MCAs had on Tuesday November 6, deposed Speaker Ndegwa Wahome and appointed Kaimbaga Ward MCA Gabriel Gathure to take over from Wahome.

The standoff running into a third month with adverse effects on the county operations.