Machakos county assembly majority leader Nicholas Kitavi is fighting for his political survival after it emerged that a section of MCAs are plotting to dethrone him barely five months after his election. Wiper party of Kalonzo Musyoka is the majority in the house and now, disgruntled Wiper MCAs are baying for the Machakos Central MCA’s blood. Kitavi is close to Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
It is the governor who rallied the Wiper fraternity to have Kitavi voted as the majority leader even after strong opposition from a section of Wiper leaders, including MPs from the county.
Nicholus Kitavi
It has come to surface that aggrieved MCAs are secretly meeting to scheme for his removal, a move that has the blessing of Kalonzo.
In their plot to cut Kitavi to size, the Wiper MCAs want to replace him with Ndalani ward MCA Francis Kitaka whom they claim is politically mature and can articulate their issues properly as opposed to the incumbent whom they accuse of using his position to cut deals. The first term Ndalani MCA has also the backing of Wiper nominated MCAs, signaling the big rift in the party.
To confirm how Kitaka’s influence in the assembly has grown over the past three months is the fact he is the only one limping Kalonzo consults on matters of the assembly bypassing the assembly leadership.
Kalonzo graced Kitaka’s homecoming party.
Kalonzo Musyoka
The majority leader has also fallen out with the majority whip Matungulu West MCA Raphael Nzau who is now secretly backing calls for change of the leadership. Nominated MCAs are also rooting for the ouster of the besieged majority leader saying he has not been defending the interests of the the party.
The furious MCAs cite a case in point where the assembly clerk Julius Mutisya frustrated his deputy Dennis Mutwii who happens to be Kalonzo’s nephew. It is said in some quarters that Mutwii was purposely planted there to spy for Kalonzo on the county leadership hence the reluctance of the staff to be free with him.
The MCAs claim the majority leader has teamed up with the clerk and speaker Ann Kiusya to tame the deputy clerk, a move that has irked some Wiper loyalists. Others however question why the nepotism on the part of Kalonzo is not being talked about. They wonder why Kalonzo brought his kin all the way from Kitui county to give him a job that should go to a person from Machakos.
The assembly speaker is believed to be a stooge of the governor as all assembly matters are first canvassed at governor’s office.
The plot to oust the majority leader has also received backing from Machakos businessmen who are said to be fighting over control of tenders. They claim the MCA has used his proximity to the county boss to influence tenders to companies he owns through proxies, locking them out from lucrative deals.
The MCA has been a long serving ally of the governor and the county boss burned midnight oil to have him elected the majority leader. The rift, it is feared, is going to affect the performance of the county government given the fact that Wiper party has a sway on almost all major decisions in the assembly.
