Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

 Embattled Nyandarua county Speaker Ndegwa Wahome has accused Governor Francis Kimemia of fanning chaos at the Assembly and disregarding the rule of law.

Appearing before the Senate’s Devolution and Inter-governmental Relations Committee together with the County Assembly Service Board Vice-Chair John Wambui yesterday, Wahome (pictured) accused Kimemia of seeking to arm-twist Ward Reps to do his bidding.

“It seems that only the Senate is able to defend devolution from what is happening in Nyandarua.

The Assembly has been captured by the governor and members can no longer speak against the ills in the county,” the Speaker told the committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’.

“We are seeking your urgent intervention on this matter so that devolution does not collapse but succeed,” he added.

Wahome further told the committee that besides denying him access to his office, the Executive had also engineered the firing of his staff.

Last week, there was chaos at the Assembly when he tried to access his office.

Police and locals engaged in running battles as Wahome’s supporters forced their way to Assembly’s premises.

The Speaker had just been reinstated by the High Court following a third unsuccessful impeachment bid.

“The governor is always invoking the name of the President to get things done at the Assembly,” he stated.

“The Senate should use Nyandarua to send a clear message to leaders who propagate impunity that their days are numbered.

We are calling on you to act with speed so that Nyandarua can have peace,” he advised. 

Wambui on his part told the committee that the Deputy Speaker Zachary Njeru now chairs the County Assembly Public Service Board in the absence of the Speaker.

“The Deputy Speaker chairs the board meetings and has since fired several staff, including those attached to the speaker,” he claimed.

Senior officials

Kajwang’ said the committee will summon the governor and Deputy Speaker among other senior officials to determine how senators will proceed with the matter.

“What we have been told is very serious. Speaker Justin Muturi chairs the Parliamentary Service Commission but when he is not there, the vice-chair takes over and not Moses Cheboi, the deputy speaker,” stated Kajwang’.

Wahome said he has gone to court every time members ousted him and successfully obtained orders reinstating him.

He said the court has also reinstated his staff but the Assembly has gone ahead and removed them from the payroll.