Kitui Assembly chamber on Tuesday, 17th December, erupted into chants of “We want to vote! We must vote!” after the highly anticipated impeachment motion against Kitui County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Mr. Peter Mwikya Kilonzo, alias Tangawizi, collapsed.
The motion, which had garnered the support of over 37 MCAs who appended their signatures for the removal of the embattled CECM, was moved by Hon. Jeremiah Mutua Musee, MCA for Nguni Ward and Chairperson of the special committee that investigated the allegations. However, in a shocking turn of events, when Hon. Jeremiah , a NARC party MCA requested Hon. Jacqueline Kalenga, a Wiper Party-nominated MCA, to second the motion, she declined.
The failure to secure a seconder meant the motion could not proceed, and pursuant to Standing Order No. 54(1), it was deemed withdrawn. The Standing Order states that “any motion that is not seconded shall be deemed to have been withdrawn, and shall not be moved again in the same session.”
The unexpected turn left many MCAs, who were eager to vote on the matter, frustrated. As their calls to proceed with the motion went unanswered, they resorted to singing liberation and patriotic songs, signaling their readiness to oust the CECM. Despite the vocal opposition, the procedural lapse left no room for debate or action.
Now safe from impeachment, Mr. Mwikya Kilonzo expressed his gratitude to his savior Hon. Jacqueline Kalenga for her critical role in blocking the motion and to other MCAs for their “objective support.”
Ends///
