The Machakos assembly yesterday removed majority leader Joshua Mwonga (Masinga ward) and majority whip Timothy Kilonzo (Muvuti ward) from their posts “to tame their arrogance and pride”.
They were replaced by Isaac Muinde (Ekalakala) and Dominic Maitha (Muthwani), respectively.
They also elected Felix Ngui (Katangi ward) as Cord affairs chairman in the assembly and Kyalo Kyuli as secretary general.
Twenty-two out of the 32 Cord MCAs voted for the change in leadership.
Speaker Bernard Mung’ata said Standing Order 15 allows a member to be removed by a majority vote of members in the largest party or coalition of parties.
The announcement was met with applause from MCAs and from the public gallery, which was packed.
The expelled leaders kept away from the assembly though Mwonga could be seen outside the chambers making frantic phone calls.
Addressing the media outside the assembly, the MCAs said they removed the two leaders to tame their “arrogance and pride”.
Ikombe MCA Nathaniel Nganga, who is also the deputy speaker, said Mwonga used his position to serve his personal interests instead of residents’ interests.
“These two have shown poor and selfish leadership and that’s why we kicked them out so we can bring in focused leaders who can drive the agenda of the assembly and the public without compromise,” he said.
The removal of Mwonga, however, is seen by political observers as a big political blow to Governor Alfred Mutua.
Mwonga has been a close ally of the governor and a staunch supporter of the Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement.
