Arati Faces Political Turmoil as Deputy Joins Critics in a Show of Unity

The firm stance taken by Kisii Governor Simba Arati in refusing to pay contractors the billions owed by the county government may be the cause of the rift between him and his deputy, Dr. Robert Monda.

The debt, totaling over Sh1.2 billion, is contested by Arati, who claims that only Sh235 million is valid, indicating that this is the amount he intends to settle.

This development has stirred up political tensions in Kisii, with the contractors, who have been told their work was “phantom,” aligning themselves with Dr. Monda, threatening to sponsor a motion to impeach Governor Arati.

Since their election in the last year’s general election, the two had been working together, often cited as an example of a governor and his deputy with a good working relationship.

However, the dynamics have quickly changed, and the leaders are no longer seeing eye to eye.

Things began to unravel last Saturday, on November 25, 2023, after Dr. Monda welcomed some of Governor Arati’s major critics to his residence in Rigena village, Nyaribari Chache constituency.

The critics included the Member of Parliament for Mugirango South and Majority Leader in the National Assembly, Silvanus Osoro, Kisii Senator Richard Momoima, Kisii County Women Representative Dorice Aburi, MPs Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North), Daniel Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba), and several ward representatives.

This meeting occurred shortly after the critics attended a thanksgiving event at the Nyabururu Catholic Church, where Speaker Moses Wetang’ula was the guest of honor.

At Nyabururu Church, Senator Onyonka, MPs Manduku, and Aburi criticized Governor Arati for his firm stance on not paying contractors their dues.

“I have tried to advise them, but they are stubborn. We tried to urge them to allocate funds to women, repair roads, build ECDE classrooms, and pay their teachers. We tried to tell them to pay their contractors, but they have done nothing,” Senator Onyonka said, supported by Dr. Manduku and Ms. Aburi.

Some of the contractors owed money were present at the event, where political leaders who attended were aligned with the government.

After the Nyabururu event, the critics of Arati, along with some of the contractors owed by the county, proceeded directly to Dr. Monda’s residence, where they were awaited.

After participating in a tea session, the MPs, who are a thorn in the side of the governor, engaged in a private meeting that lasted for more than four hours.

When they concluded the night meeting, Osoro, who led the critics, told the press that Dr. Monda expressed concern that Kisii County had been set criteria that would deny it additional allocations from the national government if it failed to settle its debts.

“Indeed, we have talked a lot. The Deputy Governor called us here and told us that there is not a single development project they have initiated contrary to what they promised the public during the campaign. He also hinted that he is not pleased with how development funds are being used in Kisii, so we have come to seek a solution,” Osoro said and then refused to take any questions from the media. The deputy governor did not speak at all about their meeting.

This meeting at Dr. Monda’s residence occurred just five days after the Controller of Budget (CoB), Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, wrote to the Kisii government regarding the unpaid debts.

Dr. Nyakang’o’s letter was addressed to Kisii Finance Minister Kennedy Abincha, seeking information on the plans in place to settle the debts.

Abincha was required to explain the methodology used to assert that some of the debts were not valid. The county government was given until December 10 to provide explanations before being allocated additional funds.

As the battle between the governor and his deputy escalates, two factions have already emerged, each defending their respective leaders.

Interestingly, these factions are from the Abanyaribari clan, from which Dr. Monda hails.

The first group criticized Dr. Monda for embracing Governor Arati’s critics, while the second, claiming to be the true Abanyaribari, rallied behind the deputy governor.