Machakos County Governor office./SCREENGRAB
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has dismissed Finance County Executive Committee Member Catherine Mutanu, ending her tenure just hours before she was due to appear before the County Assembly over an impeachment motion.
In a dismissal letter dated July 6, Governor Ndeti relieved Mutanu of her duties with immediate effect but did not give reasons for the decision.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 31(a) of the County Governments Act, I hereby relieve you of your duties as the Machakos County Executive Committee Member for Finance with immediate effect," the letter states.
Following the dismissal, Machakos County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr Muya Ndambuki formally notified the County Assembly of the governor's decision.
In a letter referenced Dismissal of CEC Member for Finance, Economic Planning, Revenue Management and ICT, Ndambuki asked the Assembly Speaker to take note of the action.
"This office has received communication from Her Excellency the Governor relieving Catherine Mutanu Raphael of her duties as the County Executive Committee Member for Finance with effect from July 6, 2026," the letter, seen by the Star, reads in part.
Mutanu's dismissal came just hours before she was scheduled to appear before a County Assembly select committee investigating a motion seeking her removal from office.
The move brought the planned hearing to an abrupt halt.
In a statement, the County Assembly said the committee was unable to proceed after receiving official communication that Mutanu had been removed from office.
"The Select Committee investigating the proposed removal from office of the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Economic Planning and Revenue Management Hon. Catherine Mutanu Raphael today could not proceed with the scheduled hearing following developments during the sitting," the Assembly said.
It noted that Mutanu had appeared before the committee on Friday, where she requested more time to prepare her response to the allegations against her. The committee granted the request and rescheduled the hearing for Monday.
However, during Monday's sitting, members received a letter from the County Secretary informing them that the governor had dismissed the Finance CEC.
Despite the development, the Assembly said the committee would continue executing its mandate and prepare a report for tabling before the House.
"The committee was unable to proceed with the hearing as scheduled. The committee, however, resolved to proceed with its mandate and will compile a report for tabling before the Assembly," the statement said.
