Machakos Speaker Anne Kiusya and Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
A simmering political feud between Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and Speaker Anne Kiusya has escalated into a full blown crisis, dividing MCAs and paralysing service delivery in the county.
Governor Ndeti now blames President William Ruto’s allies for the turmoil that began in March after Speaker Kiusya declined to appoint Judah Wewa, a school teacher and close ally of the governor, to the County Assembly Service Board.
In an address after a Sunday church service, Ms Ndeti accused Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and MPs Caleb Mule (Machakos Town), Vincent Musyoka Kawaya (Mwala) and Patrick Makau (Mavoko) of colluding with Ms Kiusya to frustrate her administration.
Machakos Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka gestures as he addresses reporters alongside other Machakos MCAs at Machakos Town on April 1, 2025.
“They are the people who are spoiling the Machakos County Assembly and we know who sent them. Your Excellency, allow me to run Machakos County the way I have allowed you to run Kenya. You and I are elected. The Speaker is not elected. You should not stoop that low,” a visibly agitated Ms Ndeti said.
She vowed to push for Ms Kiusya’s removal. “The Speaker has crossed the red line. She has failed to unite MCAs and as residents of Machakos. We are going to kick her out of office,” the governor said.
The latest outburst follows chaos that rocked the Machakos County Assembly last week as it reopened after a two-month closure ordered by the Speaker.
The session ended in violence after rival MCAs clashed. Katangi MCA Felix Ngui and his Lower Kaewa counterpart Benjamin Kyule were injured during the melee.
Mr Ngui is one of the nine MCAs barred from the assembly by Ms Kiusya, who accused them of orchestrating the chaos on April 8 that saw members exchange blows on the chamber floor amid a push to impeach her.
Chaos erupted again last week when Speaker Kiusya tabled two letters announcing changes in house leadership.
Trouble started when Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka interrupted the session, challenging the letters’ legitimacy.
One letter from Maendeleo Chap Chap Party named Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu as the new minority leader, replacing Mr Judas Ndawa. Ms Kiusya was about to read a second letter from the Wiper Party demoting Mr Nzioka as majority leader when fighting broke out.
Assembly orderlies whisked Ms Kiusya and the ceremonial mace away as MCAs fought.
“The sergeant-at-arms has assaulted me and thrown me out of the assembly where I was sent by my people. This is unacceptable. We will sit in this assembly and conduct the business we were elected to do,” Mr Ngui said after the chaos.
Ms Kiusya later suspended Mr Ngui, Mr Nzioka (Machakos Central), Stephen Mwanthi (Ekalakala), Raphael Nzau Lucky (Kangundo West) and Wiper-nominated MCAs Catherine Kyee, Catherine Muia, Annastacia Mutevu, and Hellen Ndeti for 28 sittings. She accused them of attacking orderlies, threatening her and attempting to steal the mace.
The suspended MCAs have since filed a case in court to challenge the Speaker’s actions.
Ms Kiusya, meanwhile, is facing incompetence and corruption allegations from Governor Ndeti’s allies. They also accuse her of refusing to appoint Mr Wewa to the County Assembly Service Board, a body central to the operations of the assembly. Ms Kiusya secured a court order halting an attempted impeachment but political tension between the factions has not eased.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has further inflamed the standoff by backing efforts to impeach Ms Kiusya. He criticised her for allegedly aligning with President Ruto’s administration, particularly after she attended a State House meeting with other Ukambani leaders last month. Mr Musyoka disapproved of the meeting.
“She should go for good,” Mr Musyoka said during a rally in Machakos Town where he was accompanied by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
Just days later, a defiant Ms Kiusya announced that she had ditched Mr Musyoka’s camp. She has since been frequently seen with President Ruto’s allies in the region, signalling a shift in her political allegiance.
As the impasse drags on, service delivery in the county has suffered, with critical legislative functions suspended or delayed amid the leadership wrangles.
