Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi is on the spot after Members of the County Assembly accused him of abusing his powers in implementing some projects.
On Wednesday, November 27, the MCAs accused Wamatangi of executive overreach in what they term as county assembly capture by the executive through the Judiciary hence affecting the overall mandate of the house.
They have accused Wamatangi of ‘using’ nominated MCAs who are not subject to accountability queries to pass regressive county laws.
“The governor has picked nominated MCAs to pass county laws that are not for the benefit of our county. These nominated MCAs do not have a responsibility to the people of Kiambu as they are not elected leaders. This means that they can do anything they want without being held accountable for their decisions,” noted Ngoliba ward MCA Joachim Mwangi.
“First, they were used to pass laws that led to a price hike in our Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals. Secondly, they passed laws that led to an increase in the county levy. Just recently, elected MCAs had lobbied for Ksh600 million to be included in the budget for road repairs and maintenance in Lari. Together with the governor, the nominated MCAs went ahead and approved that the money should be used to buy gumboots for the people of Lari instead,” he added.
The MCAs, as a result, made known their resolve by stating their plan to write to the Judicial Service Commission to intervene in the matter urgently and allow the MCAs to conduct their roles smoothly.
Their outcry came in the wake of Kiambu County Assembly Speaker Charles Thiong’o confirming the receipt of an 8th court order in less than two years stopping the assembly from discussing various motions that are against the executive arm of government.
“The Kiambu courts have held the Kiambu county assembly hostage. Every time we want to pass laws in the assembly, a court order is issued halting our progress. We want to call upon the JSC to come in and look into this matter. The governor has to stop misusing the courts of Kiambu and free the county assembly to deliver on its mandate,” added another MCA.
In response, the irate MCAs tabled a motion seeking to replicate the Senate parliament, where all members will be equal in voting, especially on major bills.
The MCAs cited an instance where they had passed a law that sought to fund each ward to the tune of Ksh25 million. However, they claim that the governor colluded with the nominated MCAs and passed a new law that set the funding at Ksh10 million.
The elected MCAs claimed that the new figures would severely affect the operations at the ward level and called for the governor to rescind the decision.
“The nominated MCAs are being manipulated to pass laws that ordinarily we as the elected MCAs would not pass. This is why we are introducing this motion to ensure that each ward has an equal vote,” stated Raibai ward MCA Hezron Mwangi.
