Ganda ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Oscar Wanje with Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro during the official opening of the Mkaomoto dispensary and maternity wing in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County. Photo Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti
A section of Kilifi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have condemned what they term as a politically motivated and unlawful purge from assembly committees, accusing the house leadership of violating standing orders in a bid to punish dissent.
Ganda Ward MCA Oscar Wanje claims that 10 MCAs, including himself, were stripped of their committee positions after opposing the impeachment of former Speaker Teddy Mwambire more than a month ago.
Wanje, who was serving as chairperson of the ICT Committee, says the move—engineered by Majority Leader Ibrahim Abdi and newly elected Speaker Catherine Kenga—blatantly contravenes Standing Order 164, which outlines the legal process of discharging members from committees.
“This was not an administrative decision but a deliberate political act meant to silence our oversight role,” said Wanje. “It was unprocedural, unconstitutional, and executed without any formal communication from our respective political parties.”
The affected MCAs include Benson Karisa Ngirani (Bamba), Betty Kache Mwavuo (nominated), Elina Mapenzi Samini (nominated), Faith Jane Keah (nominated), Agnes Sidi (Kaya Fungo), Rashid Odhiambo (Malindi Town), Mariam Mukumbi (nominated) and Joseph Munyoki (nominated).
Their troubles began after they opposed Mwambire’s removal, which was pushed by Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s allies. Mwambire was eventually impeached by 42 MCAs and replaced by Mrs Kenga, the former County Executive Committee Member for Roads.
Before their ouster on Thursday, the group held key leadership roles across various committees—Ngirani chaired Water, Sidi chaired Gender and Sports, Odhiambo led Education and Vocational Training, while others served as vice chairpersons in crucial committees like Budget, Implementation, and ICT.
Wanje accuses the new speaker of hypocrisy, alleging that she is engaging in the same standing order violations Mwambire was accused of.
“Is it not ironic that the same grounds used to remove Mwambire are now being flaunted by his successor?” he posed.
Nominated MCA Grace Mwangi, the Minority Whip, survived the purge—shielded by her United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party position, which requires party involvement for her removal.
Majority Leader Ibrahim Abdi admitted to making changes in committee composition but downplayed the matter, calling it “a normal procedure in most assemblies.”
Ironically, most of the ousted MCAs are from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), with one from Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) and two from UDA. The move has sparked deep divisions within ODM, with emerging factions threatening the party’s unity in Kilifi.
