Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua now dares MCAs to impeach him over fund

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua

The fate of more than Sh180 million Ward Development Fund has opened a new battle front between Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua and a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

Gachagua returned from abroad, where he has been undergoing treatment since December last year, to threats of impeachment over the multi-million shilling kitty.

Last year, the MCAs proposed the development fund that would ensure each of the 30 wards gets at least Sh6 million for development. The representatives went ahead to factor the Sh180 million in the budget.

However, the governor refused to approve the funds, forcing the MCAs to seek a third majority approval. But the governor still declined to release the money, opening new grounds for impeachment threats.

The governor’s long absence from the county, and with MCAs questioning his health, has not helped the matter.

Despite being elected on a Grand National party (GNU) and enjoying minority representation of only eight MCAs in a House dominated by The National Alliance (TNA), Gachagua has weathered many such impeachment threats from the MCAs.

On Thursday, Gachagua fired warning shots at the MCAs threatening to oust him.

Speaking during the disbursement of Sh90 million Nyeri County Elimu Bursary Fund at Karatina stadium, the governor told the MCAs he will not be moved by impeachment threats and warned them that he would serve the residents without their goodwill.

“I was elected by 145,000 of citizens of Nyeri who will decide if they still want me to be their governor or not,” he said.

He accused the ward representatives of being involved in underhand deals to siphon money from the county coffers under the guise of development.

Inflated costs

“Some are colluding with contractors to inflate the cost of projects so that they can get money to campaign for the 2017 elections,” the governor said.

Last week, Wamagana MCA Jesse Kamuri criticised Gachagua for halting the construction of roads in the county.

Mr Kamuri faulted him for writing a letter to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) asking them to halt any plans to construct roads in the county.

“He (Gachagua) has been sick. Pray for him to get well because the way he is acting we cannot tell if he is in his right mind or if he is on drugs,” Kamuri said in Tetu.

But on Thursday, Gachagua singled out Kamuri, Dancun Gituanja, Peter Kagume, Joel Gichuru and James Kibira, Mutahi Baragu and others whom he accused of orchestrating a campaign to remove him.

The governor also tore at Mathira MP Peter Weru and urged voters to send him packing and replace him with his brother Rigathi Gachagua.

Rigathi, he said, had sponsored many developments projects in schools.

On Friday, the governor was at it again, declaring that he was not ready to dish out money to MCAs to stop them from impeaching him.

He claimed that a section of the MCAs were threatening to impeach him hoping he would take them aside and entice them with cash.

“They thought that threatening me would force me to meet them and part with between Sh20,000 and Sh30,000 to drop the impeachment threats,” an agitated Gachagua said.

Speaking at Dedan Kmathi Kamukunji Grounds, Gachagua vowed to stay put.

“They have reverted to the same old tactics of blackmail as the councilors in the defunct county councils used to do to remove a mayor. I am not going to play to their whims as I was elected by more than 145,000 voters,” he said.

When he arrived back from abroad, he said, he found out that some of the MCAs had earmarked roads for tarmacking by their cronies at inflated cost in order to get kickbacks.

Fight back

“To save the taxpayer’s money, I canceled all the contracts and scuttled their plans. That is why am being fought from right and left. I am ready to fight back and go home if they succeed,” he said.

Gachagua vowed to lead women and youth to the county assembly if the MCAs made good their threats to shoot down the county budget.

He said he had factored in more than Sh130 million for women, youth and people with disability and an additional Sh100 million for coffee farmers in the budget.

“We will not allow them to shot down the budget estimates. I will personally lead the demonstration to ensure that doesn’t happen,” Gachagua said.