Kingi Cautions MCAs on Flawed Impeachments as Political Wrangles Rock Kilifi Assembly

By Ben Okweingoti 

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has urged Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to ensure they have watertight evidence before initiating impeachment motions in their respective counties.

Speaking amid a surge of impeachment attempts targeting governors, county speakers, and executive members, Kingi warned that failure to follow due process has led to many failed cases before the Senate — including the recent impeachments of Isiolo and Kericho governors.

“To my brothers MCAs, don’t blame the eagle yet it is the razor that finished the chicken,” Kingi said. “The pain you express is real, but the law must be followed or the process will always fail.”

The Senate Speaker announced plans to convene a national forum bringing together all 47 county assembly speakers to address challenges surrounding impeachment procedures. He emphasized that assemblies must anchor their processes on law and evidence to avoid embarrassment when cases collapse at the Senate.

Meanwhile, in Kilifi County, growing political tensions have deepened rifts within the assembly following the impeachment of former Speaker Teddy Mwambire. A group of 10 MCAs who opposed Mwambire’s ouster now claim they have been unlawfully removed from key house committees.

Ganda Ward MCA Oscar Wanje, one of those affected, termed the purge “unprocedural and politically motivated,” accusing the new leadership of violating Standing Order 164, which governs committee membership. “This was not an administrative decision but retaliation for standing by our oversight role,” said Wanje, formerly the ICT Committee Chairperson.

The affected MCAs — including Benson Ngirani, Betty Kache, Elina Mapenzi, and Agnes Sidi — allege that Speaker Catherine Kenga, who replaced Mwambire, is taking directives from Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s allies to consolidate control over the assembly.

However, Majority Leader Ibrahim Abdi dismissed the claims, saying the changes were routine and in line with assembly practice.

The wrangles have exposed widening cracks within the ODM party in Kilifi, where factions have emerged following the leadership shake-up — a development that threatens to further destabilize the party’s unity in the coastal county.