Makueni speaker Stephen Ngelu takes witness stand for second day running

Stephen Mutunga Ngelu, Makueni County speaker.

Makueni Speaker Stephen Ngelu has for the second day running taken to the witness stand at a commission probing a petition to dissolve the county government.

While being cross-examined yesterday, Mr Ngelu clarified that he had no differences with any section of the members of the assembly as claimed earlier by minority leader John Mwenze.

Mr Ngelu told the commission that the assembly was focused on developing the county and noted that members had originated five Bills and passed them into law. He was being probed in connection with accusations that the assembly had obstructed development in the county by delaying the enactment of key legislation.

In his defence, Mr Ngelu turned the heat on the executive for failing to present Bills in the house.  He said that in two years, the executive had only presented only two Bills — Sand Utilisation and Conservation Bill and Alcoholic Control Bill which had been passed by the assembly. Asked about removal of assembly members from certain committees, alleged by Mwenze, the Speaker absolved himself from any blame.

Gun drama

“The Speaker is not a member of selection committee which nominates members to various committees of the house. The nominations are done with consultations with respective political parties,” he said.

Asked about allegations of presiding over the impeachment of governor Kivutha Kibwana through a defective motion, Ngelu said the motion of the impeachment was procedural.

“I ensured the law was followed to the letter and I only presided over the plenary session and was not involved in voting,” he said.

He was asked to explain the goings on in a video clip in which he is heard admonishing police officers in the precincts of the assembly on September 2014, and where he threatened that members would resort to using their guns to defend themselves.

“Your honour I was agitated because the police were standing there as the crowd continued to chant and surge towards the assembly. After I reprimanded them, they took action and calm was restored,” he said.

This was in connection to gun drama at the assembly where Kibwana’s supporters clashed with leaders at the assembly.

The Speaker will continue testifying on Wednesday next week when the proceedings resume before he paves way for the governor.