Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua received a backlash from a section of politicians and Kenyans after he launched Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement on Saturday, which Wiper Party leaders now claim is a political scheme that contravenes the Political Parties Act.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, ordered for an emergency meeting to deliberate on Governor Mutua's latest move, which indicates that he could be on his way out of Wiper.
“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.
According to the Political Parties Act, a person cannot be a member of two parties at once. The act further prohibits elected members from advocating for other parties.
“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.
Mr Mutua however, dismissed claims that Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement was a Political Party saying that it was an initiative for social economic change.
“We have had something in Machakos that has worked for us and it is time to share our ideas with the Country,” he defended himself in a television interview.
On Sunday members of Wiper Party declared that they supported Kalonzo in condemning Governor Mutua for using the party to get elected, only to desert it later.
Speaking in Kibwezi East, Senator Judith Sijeny, MPs Susan Musyoka, Rose Museo, Peter Mathuki of EALA and Machakos Deputy Govenor Bernard Kiala, said Mutua also took advantage of the event to take credit for development in the County.
The launch, which was televised on five TV stations and 19 radio stations, sparked an online debate with many questioning the Governor's source of funds to broadcast the controversial event.
In his defense, Governor Mutua said that he only spent Sh5-6 Million on Media which was obtained from private investors.
