Governor Malombe risks impeachment by MCAs unhappy with his style

By PHILIP MUASYA

pmuasya@standardmedia.co.ke

There is an uneasy truce between Kitui Governor Julius Malombe and some members of his County Assembly who say they have held back calls for his impeachment.

The MCAs say the move is meant to encourage him to work more closely with them to develop the county in the coming months.

The MCAs, who have accused the governor of skewed allocation of development funds, have previously complained that county staff was being hired from regions favoured by Malombe.

Their criticism of the governor have caught the attention of National Assembly Minority Leader and Kitui West MP Francis Nyenze who has vowed to lobby MPs in the county to support the move by MCAs to impeach the governor if he continues to exclude other regions in the county from benefitting from development projects.

Nyenze observed that Malombe was facing problems of his own making by failing to work with other elected leaders.

“We have given Malombe the benefit of doubt hoping he will reform because if he does not we will be forced to come together as a party and dislodge him,” said Nyenze, with the backing of various ward representatives.

Introduce a Motion

A week ago, County Speaker George Ndotto stopped the MCAs in their tracks when they sought to introduce a Motion in the House to discuss the conduct of the governor with the aim of impeaching him. Ndotto quashed the Motion, ruling that it was improperly filed.

The infighting between the governor and his MCAs came to a head during the commissioning of the Sh65 million Nguni open-air market last week, with Ngomeni Ward Representative Nzungi Ngwele accusing the governor of awarding lucrative tenders to his associates.

“When you hear us complaining, it is because of poor leadership,” said Ngwele backed by the ward representatives present Nelson Kitema (Nguni), Musee Mulongo (Mui), Patricia Kisio (Kivou), Bernard Munyasya (Mwingi Central), Ndei Mukala (Waita) and Kitui Majority Leader Kilonzi Maundu.

However, Malombe told those who attended the commissioning of the market that political saboteurs were sponsoring the ward representatives to discredit him in a well-crafted scheme developed by corruption networks he had dismantled.

Fighting back

He said these groups were fighting back by launching a propaganda war against him. 

Malombe was supported by Kitui Senator David Musila, who told his supporters at Ngongoni area of Mwingi West Constituency that the attacks were unwarranted and ill motivated.

This drew the immediate displeasure of ward representatives who advised Musila to steer clear of the debate.

Peter Mutemi (Kiomo/Kyethani), Alex Mwendwa (Mulango), Robinson Mativo (Nzambani), Angeline Mbula (Kyuso) and Francis Mwalili (Chuluni) said Musila should appreciate the role MCAs play in county governance.

“Musila is a respected senior politician but he should not belittle us… he should keep off the affairs of the County Assembly because we know our mandate,” said Mativo. “We have a mandate to make sure Malombe duly serves Kitui people.”

Last week, the ward representative of Mui, Musee Mulongo, lamented that there was growing disconnect between the county executive and the Assembly and appealed to the governor to unify these two organs.

Shortly after the Mwingi Professionals Forum and Business Community organising secretary Campbell Munyambu accused the MCAs of arm-twisting the governor to favour them in the allocation of development projects even when it was imprudent to do so.

“These are people on an extortion bid. As professionals we have told Malombe we are behind him and that he should not be cowed. The MCAs are dancing to other people’s tune,” said Munyambu.

Different directions

As the infighting gathered pace, TNA politician in Mwingi, Peter Mwanza, observed that the Wiper party, to which the leaders belong, was losing its hold of the county.

“All elected Wiper party leaders are pulling in different directions because they do not know what is good for the party. What is happening to Malombe is a reflection of the dwindling fortunes of Wiper party,” said Mwanza.

Malombe promised to soon traverse the county to commission development projects, and assured county residents they would not be overtaxed.

“People should give us a chance to work, unless they want our county to be like Embu, where everything has ground to a halt,” he said in reference to the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora in February.

Malombe’s critics accuse him of being unreachable, failing to consult them and spearheading a slow pace of development.

The MCAs say their efforts to hold consultation with the governor on major policy issues have fallen on deaf ears.

Ngomeni Ward Representative Nzungi Ngwele claims the governor is sitting on Sh2 billion of development funds as county residents yearn for the implementation of projects identified last year.

Malombe prides himself with introducing the Sh110 million Pro-Poor Support Programme targeting poor students across the county.