Governor Mutua under fire for launching Maendeleo Chap Chap

Wiper Democratic Party members have thrown their weight behind party leader Kalonzo Musyoka in condemning Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua for launching the Maendelo Chap Chap Movement.

The MPs, who were speaking at Masonagleni, Kibwezi East on Sunday, said Mutua defied the party and contravened the Political Parties Act by launching the movement.

The leaders, who included Senator Judith Sijeny, MPs Dr. Susan Musyoka, Rose Museo, Peter Mathuki of EALA and Machakos Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala, said it is against the law for the Governor to use the party to get elected and later betray it.

They further accused Governor Mutua of wrongfully taking credit of the fruits of devolution, adding that the developments being seen in the county were are result of the governance structure-not his personal work.

They assured Musyoka that the region is solidly behind him and his quest for the Presidency in 2017.

Muddying the waters

On Saturday, Dr. Mutua muddied the Wiper Party’s political waters when he launched his Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement at Machakos Stadium.

In the event, which was televised, Mutua put the spotlight on his achievements as Machakos Governor saying that plans were underway to expand the movement to all counties.

“We have realised tremendous achievements during my time as Machakos Governor under Maendeleo Chap Chap, ranging from construction of roads, improvement of healthcare and facilitating provision of water to the residents. We are rolling out a plan to familiarise the movement across the country in a bid to ensure a change in system and development,” announced Mutua.

Reacting to this announcement on Sunday, Wiper Democratic Party leadership called for an emergency meeting on January 16th to deliberate on the fate of Mutua.

“On the 16th of this month, Wiper Democratic Movement leadership will hold a meeting in Machakos where the issue of Alfred Mutua and his movement will be discussed. If indeed the Governor has left Wiper then the best thing would be to go for a by-election,” said Kalonzo.

Though Mutua has not explicitly declared that Maendeleo Chap Chap is a political party, pundits have speculated that the Governor is setting up a rival political outfit in preparation for the 2017 polls.

Should it become clear that the movement is indeed a political party, Mutua stands to lose his gubernatorial seat in accordance with the 2011 Political Parties Act.

According to the Act, a person cannot be a member of two political parties at once. The law further prohibits elected members from championing or advocating for other parties.

Should a person contravene this Act or the party constitution, they risk dismissal from the party.

“A member of a political party may be expelled from that party if the member has infringed the Constitution of the party and after the member has been afforded a fair opportunity to be heard in accordance with the international party disputes resolution mechanisms as prescribed in the Constitution of the party,” reads the Act in part.

Governor Mutua’s fate now hangs in the balance pending the outcome of the January 16th meeting.

By @jchelagat