MCAs come to Gachagua's rescue as opponents plot impeachment
Nyeri MCAs allied to Governor Nderitu Gachagua address a press conference outside the County Assembly on August 12, 2016. They defended the governor from their counterparts who are plotting to impeach him. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- 11 MCAs on Friday said the planned impeachment motion is an attempt to discredit Governor Gachagua ahead of next year’s elections.
- They pointed an accusing finger at politician who lost out on the 2013 senatorial elections for the campaign to taint Mr Gachagua’s image.
Nyeri MCAs allied to Governor Nderitu Gachagua on Friday dismissed a plot to impeach the county boss as a smear campaign orchestrated by a 2013 polls loser.
Addressing the press on Friday, the 11 MCAs said the planned impeachment is an attempt to discredit Governor Gachagua ahead of next year’s elections.
On Thursday, 33 of 47 MCAs expressed support for the governor’s impeachment.
The 33 MCAs are plotting to impeach the Nyeri County boss over the his failure to allow them steer development projects.
However, the MCAs allied to the governor pointed an accusing finger at a politician who lost the 2013 senatorial elections for the smear campaign to taint Mr Gachagua’s image.
“We call on those plotting to impeach the governor and collecting signatures to be candid enough and confess that they are being sponsored and funded for their own self-gain,” said the MCAs in a statement read by Chinga Ward Representative Paul Ngiria.
‘They have been funded to the tune of Sh3 million as they have admitted. He bankrolls them on a regular basis and we have distanced ourselves from the impeachment since it is only meant to serve self-interest.
“Moving forward, we demand that the said sponsor to wait until Nyeri people democratically elect him,” they said.
The MCAs admitted that the County Assembly is divided into two, with a section supporting Mr Ephraim Maina and another supporting Mr Gachagua.
“We fully support the governor and have confidence in him on the values and the principles of public service,” said Mr Ngiria.
Mukurweini West MCA Bernard Mubia said the governors’ opponents want to focus on the upcoming gubernatorial elections to ensure Mr Gachagua does not perform well before polls.
They said the impeachment plan lacks the minimum threshold and it will not go anywhere as it is misguided.
The MCAs are accusing the governor of failing to implement development projects that they had proposed.
