Mathira residents have started a signature collection drive to recall their Member of Parliament, Eric Wamumbi. The initiative led by a vocal resident Samuel Ngari, seeks to gather around 31,000 signatures—30% of Mathira’s 104,000 registered voters. This threshold required by the constitution will enable the residents to formally pursue Wamumbi’s recall. The collection process began on Wednesday November 13, as discontent with Wamumbi’s leadership reached a boiling point.
Ngari, who has emerged as a leading voice in the recall, stated that residents feel neglected and unheard. One major point of contention is Wamumbi’s recent vote to support impeachment motion against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This action, Ngari claims, has left many Mathira residents feeling “betrayed” and “disrespected.”
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Community Members Speak Out Against MP Eric Wamumbi’s Leadership
Some residents in Mathira believe that Wamumbi has failed to prioritize their needs and opinions. Agnes Kirigo, a resident who joined the campaign, expressed her frustration saying, “He (Wamumbi) refused to stand with our former Deputy President. Even if the decision was made in Parliament, in our hearts, he let us down.”
Another resident, Duncan Githui, echoed this sentiment, calling Wamumbi a “traitor” and urging him to either change his ways or “move to Murang’a where he got his wife.”
Grounds for MP Eric Wamumbi’s Recall
In addition to the controversy over his vote, Ngari has listed eight other grounds for Wamumbi’s removal. These include accusations of financial mismanagement and alleged misuse of Constituency Development Funds (CDF). Ngari claims that Wamumbi has abused his position by misappropriating these funds, a matter that has left Mathira residents without crucial development projects.
Ngari also highlighted Wamumbi’s alleged involvement in bribing locals to influence public opinion during the Gachagua impeachment process. He argues that this move only served Wamumbi’s personal interests, further disconnecting him from the community he represents. Additionally, the MP reportedly terminated several constituency office employees without following standard procedures, adding to the grievances against him.
One resident, Ann Muringo, criticized Wamumbi for failing to bring tangible change to Mathira. She said, “All he does is talk. He’s not helping us. We need action, not empty words.”
Mathira Residents To Use December Holidays For Gathering Support
Ngari plans to leverage the upcoming December holiday season when most Mathira residents return home to intensify the campaign. By doing so, he hopes to surpass the 31,000 signatures needed to initiate the recall process. “Even if this process fails, we will start again. We can’t wait until 2027 to see real change,” Ngari asserted.
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Eric Wamumbi, however, appears unfazed by the signature collection efforts. Through his social media, Wamumbi dismissed the campaign as a tactic driven by his political opponents. In a Facebook post, he suggested that the efforts stem from resentment over his stance on Gachagua’s impeachment.
