Kilifi Speaker faces impeachment as MCAs file motion
Coast
By
Marion Kithi
| Jun 17, 2025
Kilifi MCAs have initiated the process of impeaching Speaker Teddy Mwambire over alleged incompetence, gross misconduct, gross violation of the constitution, and abuse of office.
The impeachment motion was tabled at the county assembly on Monday by Tezo MCA Thomas Chengo and has attracted support from both ODM and UDA representatives after it garnered 36 signatures.
In the motion, the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) MCA seeks to probe the conduct of the speaker.
Chengo argued that the speaker has been undermining the roles of the county assembly committees and has alleged failure to observe procedural fairness.
The MCA argued that the speaker erred when he disbanded the County Budget and Appropriations Committee in May and ordered the formation of a whole-house committee without engaging the members involved.
READ MORE
Hustler Fund officials deny misuse as Auditor General flags Sh8bn shortfall
KPC urges court to throw out Sh500m new claim filed by Lebanese firm
Malaysia verifying report of Chinese firm bypassing US tech curbs
Kenyan farmers urged to tap into China's zero-tariff market
Low development budget hurts Kenya's status as a regional hub
No more delays as CBK extends payment hours for 24-hour economy
Construction sector crumbles under political heat as investors retreat
Kenya, South Korea in fresh efforts to upgrade maritime training
AfDB to inject Sh8b for construction of Bungoma refferal hospital
''Suspending the Kilifi County Programme Based Budget Estimates FY 2025/2026 without engaging the members reeks of gross misconduct, incompetence and amounts to gross violation of the Constitution of Kenya,'' he said.
He added that the speaker's actions were geared towards scuttling the budget-making process and ultimately paralyzing the Kilifi county government.
Chengo also argued that by holding the office of the chairperson of the Kilifi County Co-ordinating Committee of the ODM party, the speaker compromises the political neutrality of the office of the speaker of the county assembly as opposed to the Leadership and Integrity Act.
''The speaker unsuccessfully vied for the position of chairperson in the Ganze subcounty in the just concluded ODM grassroots elections, where he lost to Mr George Fondo,'' he noted.
Chengo said that he has support from MCAs who believe that the speaker should be impeached, as he was serving his personal interests at the assembly.
At least one-third of the 51 MCAs need to sign the petition for the impeachment motion to be approved for debate.
The county assembly deputy speaker Naftal Kombo has appointed five members in the ad hoc committee to investigate and inquire into the claims outlined in the motion that seeks a resolution for the removal of the speaker and table a report before the county assembly within 14 days.
The MCAs selected for the ad hoc committee are Twahir Abdul Karim, Filster Auma Meso, Kantona Mae Mwadena, Hassan Said, and Ummi Mohammed.
''Section 11C of the County Government Act 2012 stipulates that the speaker shall not perform any of the functions of the office of the speaker pending the resolution of the county assembly impeachment motion,'' said the deputy speaker.
Speaking to the Standard, Mwambire said he was committed to serving the people, and the allegations tabled against him were baseless and politically motivated.
''The price tag and threats that have been put on my head for this exercise by my detractors are unbelievable. There is more than meets the eye in this calculated move. Let the public be very vigilant or else we may end up regretting. I have been silent for a while for a reason you will come to learn with time,'' said Mwambire.
Mwambire said that some people had advised him to resign but he instead chose to stand firm for the benefit of the people.
Kilifi North MP Mr Owen Baya, who has been supporting Mwambire's impeachment, said the speaker has used the position for his political gains.
A nominated MCA, Grace Mwangi, said that the motion was not for the benefit of the locals but a few politicians, saying she will not support it.