Bernard kiala tells senators, Alfred mutula behind his woes

Embattled Machakos Deputy
Governor Bernard Kiala Monday
defended himself before a Senate
committee, saying he was being
crucified for exposing wrongs
committed by the county
government.
Mr Kiala presented himself as an
innocent whistleblower made to
pay for lifting the lid on ills going
on in the government.
Mr Kiala accused Machakos
Governor Alfred Mutua, saying he
was behind his troubles.
He used the 40 minutes given him
to make an opening statement to
reveal what he termed “issues
behind my problems”, although he
focused mostly on the wrongs
allegedly committed by the
governor.
“I wish to respectfully submit to
this committee that I am a victim
of witch-hunt and a sacrificial
lamb at the altar of merchants of
impunity and a county executive
led by the governor keen to haunt
me out of office for whistleblowing
against acts of corruption and bad
governance,” said Mr Kiala.
However, the county assembly
lawyer Kioko Kilukumi defended
the governor and accused Mr Kiala
of derailing the county
government’s activities and
undermining Dr Mutua.
“The deputy governor has been
unable to perform his functions, he
has contravened the Constitution
and abused his office. The people
he has worked closely with,
interacted with have passed a
resolution that he be removed
from office,” said Mr Kilukumi.
At one time, Mr Kiala’s lawyer
Harun Ndubi questioned whether
the committee should entertain
new evidence to support the
allegations against his client and if
doing so amounted to unfair trial
for his client.
The committee retreated for
consultation before its chairman
Mutahi Kagwe who is also the
Nyeri Senator, ruled that the
evidence was admissible so long as
it did not make fresh allegations
that were not discussed when the
MCAs impeached the deputy
governor.
The hearing continues.