The County Assembly of Kitui was gripped by heated debate today following the tabling of a motion to remove the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Economic Planning, and Revenue Management, Mr. Peter Mwikya Kilonzo.
The motion was introduced by Hon. Anthony Musyimi Musyoka, MCA for Kiomo/Kyethani Ward, during the afternoon plenary session.
In his address to the Assembly, Hon. Musyoka outlined a series of serious allegations against Mr. Kilonzo, accusing him of gross misconduct, incompetence, abuse of office, and violations of the Constitution and other statutory provisions.
Key Grounds for Removal
- Gross Violation of the Constitution and Statutory Laws
Mr. Kilonzo is accused of failing to uphold constitutional principles and statutory requirements. Key violations cited include:
Undermining public participation and separation of powers in violation of Articles 1, 10, and 118 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, among others.
Breaching provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), including sections governing financial approvals and revenue management.
Violating leadership and integrity laws under the Constitution and related statutes such as the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012.
- Incompetence
The CECM is alleged to have failed in delivering his statutory mandate, including:
Missing critical deadlines, causing disruptions to county operations and financial planning.
Submitting an unlawful memorandum to amend the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) for 2024/2025.
Misreporting on financial uploads related to the Kitui County Supplementary Budget for FY 2023/2024.
Setting unrealistic Own Source Revenue targets for the county.
- Abuse of Office
Mr. Kilonzo is further accused of exploiting his position to solicit bribes from contractors before approving payments. This is a direct violation of the Bribery Act, 2016, and Chapter Six of the Constitution, which outlines ethical standards for public officers.
- Gross Misconduct
Additional allegations include:
Misusing his office for personal gain by influencing the drilling of boreholes on family-owned land in Mayaani village, contrary to the approved county budget allocations.
Submitting an unlawful memorandum challenging the approved CFSP, contravening the County Governments Act and the County Assembly Standing Orders.
What’s Next?
The motion is expected to spark robust debate within the County Assembly as members deliberate on the allegations. If the motion garners the required support, it could lead to the removal of Mr. Kilonzo from office.
The matter highlights growing tensions within the Kitui County Government, with some members accusing the executive of failing to deliver on key mandates.
Efforts to reach Mr. Kilonzo for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publishing.
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