Impeached Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Teddy Ngumbao Mwambire.
“There is a lot in life one should appreciate. God will never forsake His people. I am in Forodhoyo village trying to figure out the next move.”
These are the words of Mr Teddy Mwambire who retreated to his village after Kilifi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) voted to impeach him as Speaker on Monday.
Once considered an asset for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Mr Mwambire’s fortunes have taken a dramatic turn. He accuses Governor Gideon Mung’aro of orchestrating his downfall.
The 45-year-old began his political career as Vitengeni councillor at the age of 28 in 2008.
His oratory skills and grassroots appeal helped him get elected as Sokoke Ward Representative and later County Assembly Deputy Speaker from 2013 to 2017.
Riding on ODM’s popularity, he became Ganze MP in 2017, defeating then-incumbent Peter Safari Shehe.
Mr Shehe was elected Jaribuni Ward Representative in 2022.
Though Mr Mwambire lost his National Assembly seat to Mr Kenneth Kazungu of Pamoja African Alliance party in 2022, he remained prominent. ODM rewarded his loyalty by appointing him Kilifi County party chairperson, replacing Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who had joined the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro.
Just a month after his parliamentary seat loss, Mr Mwambire was elected Kilifi County Assembly Speaker.
However, that came at a cost. By 2023, his roles as Speaker and ODM county chief drew criticism, with opponents questioning Mr Mwambire’s ability to remain politically neutral on key issues.
He now says the impeachment was a political hit job driven by ODM lawmakers and local politicians allied to Governor Mung’aro.
“The governor has been scheming to push me out since January 2023. He says it is about other issues but wants me to resign from the party so he can become the county coordinating chairperson,” he said.
Though ODM Leader Raila Odinga and other national officials intervened multiple times, tensions still escalated.
The final straw came in May when Mr Mwambire disbanded the County Assembly Budget Committee and replaced it with a full-house committee, a decision seen in many quarters as abuse of office.
A past session at the Kilifi County Assembly.
Mr Mung’aro has denied involvement in Kilifi County Assembly affairs.
“I am not an MCA. Let everyone carry his or her cross. The Speaker started the issues with the Assembly Budget Committee and the ward representatives decided he should be removed,” the governor told the Daily Nation.
A motion to impeach Mr Mwambire was filed on June 26 and supported by 36 ward representatives.
He was accused of incompetence, gross misconduct, violating the Constitution and conflict of interest.
The Assembly formed an 11-member team to investigate the charges.
The impeachment has reignited calls for Mr Mwambire to step down from the county ODM position.
