Bitter war of words erupts between Kivutha Kibwana and Mutula Kilonzo Jr

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana speaks during a past function also attended by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior.

Photo credit: Salaton Njau | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • In a statement, Prof Kibwana challenged Mr Kilonzo Jnr to bring on the impeachment.
  • The governor also linked the senator to his troubled first term which was marred by a failed impeachment.

The revenue sharing impasse pitting governors and senators has degenerated into a heated war of words between Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior.

The senator angered the governor when he threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against him as he called on county bosses to disobey a Council of Governors (CoG) directive to withdraw the delivery of non-essential services at the devolved units.

“I want to tell my governor Kivutha Kibwana, if you close level 4 hospitals in Makueni we shall impeach you,” he said on Wednesday, sparking multiple conversations on social media.  

In a statement, Prof Kibwana challenged Mr Kilonzo Jnr to bring on the impeachment.

The governor also linked the senator to his troubled first term which was marred by a failed impeachment attempt and a 2014 gun drama at the Makueni Assembly premises that saw the devolved government cheat disbandment narrowly and led to the conviction and subsequent jailing of the senator’s bodyguard.

Impeachment threat

“If Mutula Kilonzo Junior wants to impeach me a second time, he is welcome. I had heard about the impeachment threat and expulsion from the Wiper Democratic Movement before today,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

The senator feels that governors should not politicise their push for the release of funds. On his part, the governor feels that senators have become overly insensitive to the needs of counties.

“How can the Senate miserably fail Kenyans and then blame the presidency and governors? Several county employees have come to me after their rental premises were padlocked. Senators continue to draw their salaries and sitting allowances. How are they defending devolution?” the governor wondered.   

The county bosses are counting on the withdrawal of non-essential services at the counties to push the Senate to unlock the revenue sharing formula impasse and set off the disbursement of money to counties.