Mathira residents collect signatures to recall MP Eric Wamumbi over Gachagua impeachment

A section of Mathira residents have embarked on the process of collecting signatures as they seek to recall their Member of Parliament, Eric Wamumbi, whom they accuse of failing to pursue their interests.

The process, being led by Samuel Ngari, a voter and resident of Mathira, kicked off Wednesday afternoon with the aim of achieving the constitutional threshold of at least 30% of the registered voters in Mathira – which translates to around 31,000 signatures.

Their mission is to collect at least 31,000 signatures out of the 104,000 registered voters in the constituency.

The residents cited his recent decision to vote in favour of a motion against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. It only took a little convincing from Samuel Ngari, whose idea is to recall the MP.

"Na sisi tuko na uchungu juu alikataa kusimama na deputy president wetu Rigathi Gachagua na hiyo kitu, hata kama wali impeach, wali impeach huko lakini kwa roho yetu hatatoka,'" said Agnes Kirigo a resident.

Duncan Githui added: "Na yeye Wamumbi ni msaliti. Asikuwe anakuja hapa, akuwe akipaa juu, ata yeye anunue ndege. Ama aende huko Murang’a mahali alitoa bibi."

Apart from neglecting his constituents, Ngari, a voter from Kirimukuyu Ward, has cited eight other grounds for removing his MP from office, including abuse of office in misappropriating CDF funds, alleged bribery of residents in the public participation exercise on the impeachment of Gachagua, and the firing of some employees at the constituency office without following due process.

"Ata kama tunajua saa hii hakuna IEBC, kuna kesi kortini, na mwaka ujao korti itatatua hiyo kesi. Tunataka hiyo kesi ikitatuliwa, commission yenye itakuja, ikuwe mtu wa kwanza kutolewa ni Wamumbi," Ngari said.

Another resident Ann Muringo noted: "Hakuna kazi anatufanyia. Hiyo mdomo yake amepiga, mdomo amepiga mdomo hakuna kitu ametusaidia. Kazi yake ni matusi wakiwa na Betty Maina."

Ngari hopes to capitalize on the December holiday when most residents are back in the village to increase his numbers, even as the MP, on his social media platform Facebook, dismissed the exercise, terming it a fightback from the former Deputy President.

"Hatuwezi tukangojea mpaka 2027 kwa sababu tukingojea 2027 Wamumbi bado anaendelea kukula pesa yetu, anakula mshahara na hakuna kazi anatufanyia. So hata kama hii process haitaenda through, bado tutarudi hapa tuanzishe ingine mpya," Ngari stated.