Kitui Speaker, 4 MCAs forcefully bundled out of hotel by goons Wednesday night

Some men entered into the hotel’s VIP lounge and the group’s leader with commanding voice told Kinengo and the MCAs to immediately stop what they were doing and leave immediately without questioning or resistance.

In a circulated video clip, a voice of a man is heard telling the speaker and the MCAs that they would not be hurt if they obeyed the instructions and hurriedly and peacefully stepped out.

“Get out, leave now", the man shouted at Speaker Kinengo and his group. The speaker, his deputy and Kyangwithya West MCA, Christopher Nzilu, assembly majority leader and Migwani MCA Harrison Maluki, Mwingi Central MCA Bernard Sila and his nominated Wiper MCA Priscilla Makumi half-heartedly rose up from their seats and left.

But in a quick reaction, Kinengo issued a press statement where he confirmed indeed they were ambushed by goons at the prestigious hotel owned by UDA governor in one of the counties in the Upper Eastern region.

“I confirm that yesterday, Wednesday 11th December 2024, at around 10 pm, while having dinner with some honorable MCAs at a hotel in Kitui town, we were ambushed by goons who evicted us from the hotel in a very unfortunate manner,” the speaker said.

He, however, confirmed he and his other colleagues are safe, and they shall take the necessary legal action.

“I strongly condemn the harassment of any citizen of Kenya, especially leaders, as they execute their legal mandates. I pray for peace and harmony in our great county of Kitui. God bless Kitui County,” Kinengo said in the statement.

The attack comes in the wake of a war of words between the Speaker and Governor Dr Julius Malombe. Last week Kinengo and Dr Malombe each claimed the other was responsible for the soaring relationship between the Assembly and the Executive.

On Wednesday, the assembly’s probe committee investigating violation of the Constitution and gross misconduct of Finance Committee Executive Member Peter Kilonzo alias Tangawizi found him guilty of the charges and ordered him to appear before a plenary sitting on Tuesday to tender his defence.

In the motion drafted by Kiomo/Kyethani Ward Representative, Antony Musyoka, Mr Kilonzo, is among other things, accused of alleged violation of the Constitution, incompetence, abuse of office and gross misconduct as the basis to impeach him.

Speaking at a burial of Nuu MCA Judith Wanza’s father Mzee William Mutwii, the speaker read utter mischief and lack of modesty by some county executive members, telling the Governor that respect is a two-way traffic. He told Malombe to stop chest thumping by relegating the Members of the County Assembly to his subordinate.

“Please Mr Governor, accord MCAs and the assembly the respect due and remember you are not indispensable,” Kinengo said.

“I listened to the Governor speaking at a burial in Kitui Central where he chest-thumped, equating the county government to his exclusively. I want to honorably tell him this government belongs to us all. Neither the assembly nor the executive can lead independently,” the speaker said.

He said unless the executive and the assembly worked harmoniously, Malombe and his administration would turn into a political disaster in his remaining tenure in office before exiting in 2027.

Kilonzo’s impeachment comes in the wake of a pull and push between the assembly and the Governor.

The simmering battle pitting Malombe, on one hand, and Wiper Party allied MCAs and speaker, on the other, is threatening to rock the county as political temperatures flare.

The battle in the county which has been polarised into feuding camps also threatens to spoil the governor’s legacy as he exits office in 2027. 

There is now a boiling war coupled with acrimony and bitter exchange between Governor Malombe and members of the county assembly led by the youthful speaker who is a lawyer by profession.

Malombe is serving his second and last time in office, having been elected first in 2013 but lost to his successor Charity Ngilu in 2017 only to reclaim the seat in 2022. 

However, the Governor has maintained that he would not succumb to intimidation, blackmail or threats from within or outside the assembly.

Malombe claims Kilonzo’s impeachment was a wide scheme by political saboteurs to sponsor ward representatives to discredit him in a well-crafted mischievous plot developed by corruption networks he had dismantled.

“We have development saboteurs inside and outside assembly. Kitui people are cautious about the destruction and loss caused by naysayers. We will not tolerate them,” the Governor said.

Some MCAs allied to Malombe have dismissed Kilonzo’s impeachment motion as blackmail, driven by greed for kickbacks and quick money.