CORD MCAs fail to stop Kidero’s impeachment motion

Efforts by a section of MCA on Tuesday to stop the tabling of a motion to impeach Nairobi Governor failed with the County Assembly’s sergeant-at-arms being called in to calm the situation.

Prior to the session, security was tight outside the county assembly with police on standby to deal with any acts of violence.

The motion was delayed for close to thirty minutes after Eastleigh South MCA Nelson Maraga was ordered out of the chambers after he protested Speaker Alex Magelo’s ruling that the motion be moved.

The MCA resisted attempts to forcefully remove him from the chambers, before finally obliging.

The motion, moved by Viwandani MCA, Samwel Nyangwara, was signed by 56 MCAs, with Nyagwara being the only CORD MCA to sign the motion.

Nyangwara, who recently defected from CORD to Jubilee, accused Kidero of inability to control and manage county debt which currently stands at Ksh42 billion, unprocedural awarding of revenue collection tenders, and abuse of office.

Later, CORD MCAs, led by the majority leader Elias Otieno, walked out of the Chambers in protest minutes after their attempts to stop the motion flopped.

The walkout was triggered by accusations by the minority leader Hassan Guyo that one of their members had attended the sessions while under the influence of alcohol.

The battle for the removal of Kidero has however been largely perceived as a contest between CORD and Jubilee and 2017 Nairobi Governorship race.

Jubilee has vowed to fight hard in order to win the seat with Deputy President William Ruto saying their intention is to manage the country and the country’s capital Nairobi.

However, there seem to be divisions within Jubilee county representatives regarding the matter with a section of the MCAs expressing divergent views on the issue.

Of the 127 county assembly members, 64 are from CORD while 63 are from Jubilee. Out of 63 Jubilee MCAs, only 55 signed the petition to remove Kidero with only the mover Mr Nyangwara being a CORD MCA.

This means that eight Jubilee MCA kept off the matter.

There is likelihood, however, of Kidero escaping the impeachment motion unscathed should he be able to convince the assembly that the allegations against him are malicious.

Kidero will appear before the Assembly, either in person or through his lawyers, to defend himself against the allegations levelled against him in seven days after which the MCAs will take a vote on the matter.

Should the motion pass, it will be forwarded to the Senate where a decision on whether or not to approve the impeachment will be made.

Political pundits however see the move as a plot by a section of MCAs to extort money from the governor to fund their 2017 elections campaign.

@benjaminwafula