Kiambu MCAs threaten to impeach Governor Wamatangi over alleged incompetence, mismanagement

Months after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met with Kiambu legislators to save Governor Kimani Wamatangi from a planned impeachment, new trouble that could rekindle political tensions in the county has emerged.

Kiambu MCAs are now accusing the county chief of dictatorship, poor leadership, and an inability to oversee the county development. 

The MCAs accused Wamatangi of being a lone ranger, being unable to work with other leaders, failing to include other important people in decision-making, and slow infrastructural developments at the Ward level during a press conference held at the county assembly.

Wamatangi's failure to fully constitute his government for effective service delivery one year after taking office is also at the heart of heightened wranglings between the county assembly and executive leadership.

The MCAs, led by Githiga Ward Member of Assembly Ruth Waithera, chastised Wamatangi for failing to submit the names of the chief officers for approval to the assembly, a move that has seen him collaborate with those from former governor James Nyoro's administration.

One of the key positions that has been vacant for months is that of county secretary, which has been vacant since Martin Njogu, the former CS, resigned months ago.

Although he did not specify why he resigned, the MCAs claimed that a strained working relationship between him and the governor was no longer sustainable.

Among those who have resigned during Wamatangi's tenure is Biabiane Waiganjo, a county executive committee member for education who resigned in April this year citing harsh, oppressive, and suppressive working conditions as the reason for leaving the county executive after only two months.

Gibson Mburu, the county's chief of staff, resigned later, as did County executive committee member in charge of roads Samuel Mugo and his chief officer for roads Daniel Njenga.

All of these have not been replaced since their resignation, which has irritated MCAs who accuse Wamatangi of running county affairs unilaterally.

Despite the gazettement of Juja, Kabete, Lari, Kahawa Sukari, Githunguri, and Gatundu municipalities earlier this year, outraged MCAs complained that the metropolises lack substantive boards to run them, putting the county's Ksh. 1.8 billion from the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support Program in jeopardy.

The MCAs have also faulted the county boss for failing to formalize the engagement of his administration with casual workers, whom they said are irregularly fired after intense intimidation.

The Ward representatives alleged that since he assumed office, the governor cannot illustrate the projects he has undertaken, save for the distribution of weeks-old chicks and fertilizer to farmers.

According to Karuri MCA Peter Njoroge Wainaina, the governor has been sabotaging elected MCAs by using members of his Wamatangi Foundation as foot soldiers and replacing them in administrative mandates.

Njoroge also claimed that only Ksh.400 million (8.2 percent) of the 4.88 billion shillings set aside for development in the county in the previous fiscal year had been consumed as of April this year, a situation that could have resulted in the local government returning billions of unspent monies to the national treasury.

He also alleged massive embezzlement of public funds by county officials through the signing of imprests by junior officers.

The assembly majority leader, Godfrey Mucheke, who is believed to be Wamatangi's point man, has already been dethroned, and the MCAs have stated that unless the governor puts his house in order, they will not hesitate to remove him from office.

But in a quick response, Wamatangi upheld that he wouldn’t be cowed by the demands of corrupt people, claiming that the fights at the assembly are a plot by his political nemesis, who are opposed to his leadership style and political stature.

While addressing Gatundu residents during a chicks’ distribution event, Wamatangi argued that his political enemies are using Ward representatives as pawns in a larger scheme to discredit him.