This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu is facing a spirited effort to be removed from office, engineered by MCAs in the Wiper party, led by politician Kalonzo Musyoka.
On July 8, 2020, Justice Weldon Korir ruled in favor of the motion by majority leader Peter Kilonzo, allowing the process to proceed.
With the High Court's decision, lobbying for support has intensified, with both sides vying for the necessary two-thirds majority of 36 votes to pass the motion.
Ms Ngilu's party, Narc, has 12 members, but enjoys the support of MCAs from smaller political parties and independent lawmakers.
Members of the governor's camp claim to have the backing of about 25 MCAs, but Mr Kilonzo insists his camp has more than 36 supporters.
A caucus of 10 women MCAs, led by Anastasia Mwathi of Mutito/Kaliku ward, has thrown their weight behind Governor Ngilu, calling the motion ill-motivated and aimed at distracting her from her manifesto goals.
Ms Mwathi noted that MCAs must represent the interests of the people who elected them, not political parties.
"We can't allow bullying by big parties against a leader who was popularly elected by more than 170,000 votes," she said.
US-based law scholar Makau Mutua has also waded into the controversy, criticizing the assembly for seeking to oust the governor.
Speaker George Ndotto has summoned Ms Ngilu to appear before the assembly on July 15, 2020, with strict instructions to bring only two legal counsels.
