At least 31 Members of the Kitui County Assembly (MCAs) have already signed a motion seeking to impeach Speaker Kevin Katisya Kinengo, accusing him of abuse of office, incompetence, and gross violation of the Constitution. The motion, tabled by Matinyani MCA Sylvester Munyalo alias Yaaamu, signals the beginning of what could become one of the most consequential political battles in Kitui in recent years.
The Assembly is made up of 60 MCAs in total, comprising 40 elected ward representatives and 20 nominated members. The Constitution sets out a two-step process for impeachment. To bring a motion to the floor, at least a third of all members must sign in support. In Kitui’s case, that means a minimum of 20 MCAs. With 31 members already on board, the motion has comfortably crossed this first hurdle.
However, removing a Speaker is never straightforward. The law requires that at least two-thirds of all members vote in favor of the motion for it to succeed. That means Kinengo’s opponents must rally not less than 40 MCAs to their side when the matter finally comes up for a vote. Anything less would collapse the motion and give the embattled Speaker a political lifeline.
Kenya’s history with county assembly impeachments shows how difficult this stage can be. In Kakamega in 2019, Speaker Maurice Buluma survived after members split along party lines. In Meru in 2021, Speaker Joseph Kaberia also held onto his seat when support for his ouster crumbled at the last minute. Yet in Nairobi in 2020, Beatrice Elachi was pushed out after overwhelming numbers turned against her, while in Makueni in 2018, David Mwalika was successfully removed when consensus built strongly within the Assembly.
For Kinengo, the accusations may be grave, but his survival ultimately hinges less on their weight and more on the arithmetic of politics. If his rivals can convince at least 40 members to stand firm, then his ouster will be sealed. If not, he will survive the storm and remain at the helm of Kitui County Assembly.
