Machakos Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala impeached

Machakos, Kenya: Machakos County Assembly has endorsed the impeachment of the Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The Motion to impeach Mr Kiala was brought to the House by Mutituni Ward Representative Joseph Kalunde.

Forty Members of the County Assembly voted to support his removal while 19 opposed the Motion.

Moving the Motion, Kalunde accused the deputy governor of nepotism, soliciting bribes from bidders for contracts in his docket, harassing senior staff, fueling tribal animosity by discriminating against workers who do not come from the county and associating with area governor's political detractors.

Skipped meetings

Kalunde also accused Kiala of failing to attend County Executive Committee meetings without proper explanation.

During the debate, Minority Leader Thomas Mweu Kasoa said the deputy governor's misdeed were so grave that he should not only be impeached, but also apologise to residents for exposing the county government to ridicule.

''Instead of wasting this House's time, the deputy governor should have instead tendered his resignation,'' said Mr Kasoa.

But opposing the Motion, Machakos Town Ward Representative Cornellius Kitheka termed the accusations levelled against the deputy governor as malicious.

''How can you claim to impeach a deputy governor on the basis of hearsay designed to besmirch his name?'' posed Mr Kitheka.

But Majority Leader, who is also Kangonde Ward Representative, Joshua Mwonga said the deputy governor acted inappropriately by threatening officers under his docket when they refused to give in to his demands to award tenders to his cronies and also employ his friends.

Ndalani Ward Representative Stephen Muthuka accused those pushing for Kiala's sack of political witch hunt, adding that the accusations should have not been brought to the House.

Earlier, there was intensive lobbying outside the assembly, with each side trying to marshal the numbers required to either pass the Motion or reject it.

Assembly Clerk Felix Mbiuki oversaw the exercise.

According to the Constitution, only a two-thirds majority is required to impeach the governor or his deputy.

After the Speaker announced the results of the vote, MCAs supporting the Motion broke into celebrations and they were later joined by their supporters who had camped outside the Chambers.

The pro-Kiala camp, however, claimed two of their colleagues were bought at the eleventh hour to betray them.

Business was temporarily disrupted in Machakos as the MCA and their supporters celebrated the victory in the streets.

The proposal will now be forwarded to the Senate for approval.