Monda was kicked out by Parliament on Thursday in a vote where senators buried their political affiliations and unanimously sent him home.
There have been ruthless power struggles in at least seven counties including Trans Nzoia, Meru, Machakos, Siaya and Kericho.
There are also allegations of behind-the-scene fights between a Kenya Kwanza governor and the deputy in a key cosmopolitan county.
The fallout is reportedly being managed as it's seen as a potential public relations disaster for the governor's 2027 reelection bid.
Monda — a former MP for Nyaribari Chache — was engaged in tuff wars with Governor Simba Arati, with the battle splitting top political leaders from Gusii region.
It was widely expected that the majority Kenya Kwanza wing would gang up to save Monda. However, this was not to be.
Monda had the backing of South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro and Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
With the Senate taking what seems to be a non-partisan approach, impeached leaders attempting to take advantage of the Azimio-Kenya Kwanza rivalry could be in trouble.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi admitted he had fallen out with his boss, Governor Wavinya Ndeti but they have since mended fences.
“Yes, we had problems but we solved them amicably. Even with your own brother or sister, you can disagree but how you solve the problem is the real issue,” Mwangangi told the Star.
He said disagreements between governors and their deputies is a common occurrence in most, if not, all the counties.
The DG suggested that the clash is triggered by several factors including political interests, external incitement, disrespect and the egos of some leaders.
“These disagreements arise from ego and violation of agreements because some people had agreements before the election but after they won those agreements were disregarded,” he said.
“Some people are also using strategies that can split the two leaders so that they do not win in the next election."
In Trans Nzoia, Governor George Natembeya has clashed with his deputy Philemonah Kapkory, while in Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza does not see eye-to-eye with with Isaac Mutuma. In Kericho, Governor Eric Mutai has fallen out with deputy Fred Kirui.
It has emerged that the fight for the 2027 elections and control of billions of shillings in the counties are at the centre of the infighting.
In some counties, the DGs have been stripped of basics including office budget, official vehicles and staff.
Some deputy governors have been sidelined and others blocked from attending county executive committee meetings.
The wars have culminated in the impeachment of deputy governors in some counties.
Monda is not the first casualty of the county wars. Last year, Siaya MCAs impeached William Oduol. He was however saved in the Senate.
Appearing before the Whole House of the Senate during his trial last Thursday, Monda squarely blamed Governor Arati for his troubles.
“I want to make it clear that we have a strained relationship with the governor. From the time we came to the office, our relationship has been deteriorating,” Monda said.
He revealed he fell out with Arati after he questioned the low absorption rate of the county’s development budget.
In the first year in office, he said, the county spent a paltry 13.9 per cent of their budget on development against the required 30 per cent.
In the first quarter of the current financial year, the government spent 1.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent in the first half of the fiscal year.
The figures tally with those captured in the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o’s budget implementation review reports for the first quarter and half year for 2023-24.
“I believe that it is because of these issues I have been raising that I’m here before the Senate for impeachment today,” he said.
“The relationship with my governor has been deteriorating year in year out since we were elected.”
In Meru, Mutuma lifted the lid on his bitter fallout with his boss Governor Mwangaza.
“I always avoid talking about myself because I have not put myself in this office. It is the people of Meru who elected me to this office,” he said.
His office has been denied necessary facilitation to be effective in discharging its duties.
His personal assistant and secretary were sacked. The county government no longer fuels or maintains his official vehicle, he said.
“I do it myself from my salary,” Mutuma said, adding that he has received direct threats to his life in what he believes is connected to their fallout.
According to Mutuma, the problems started when he questioned the way the county leadership was spending public resources and the failure by the governor to unite leaders in the county.
“Mama punishes heavily any MCA who associates with me. There are wards in Meru which have never known development,” he said.
In Kericho, the Star has established the cold war between Governor Mutai and his Deputy Kirui.
The war spilled into the public last year but the two leaders were summoned and reconciled by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nyeri.
However, it has emerged that the duo is still engaged in brutal wars.
“It is even worse now. The DG does not speak to the media since the meeting in Nyeri but I can assure you that their relationship has grown from bad to worse,” a source close to Kirui said.
“It is a fact, the two leaders will face each other at the ballot in 2027. They will not run together again.”
The fight was triggered after the governor reportedly failed to meet his side of the bargain to fulfil their pre-election agreement.
“The DG is a water engineer. He was supposed to be in charge of water and run the entire sector. But this never happened,” the source disclosed.
Last year, Mutai and Kirui engaged in an ugly public spat in what exposed their bad blood.
Mutai lectured his deputy over what he termed as preaching ‘petty' politics after the latter, in his address, complained over disrespect and lack of adequate resources to enable him traverse the county.
“If you go around the whole world discussing some things, it will not help us or bring food to the table,” Mutai told his deputy at a public function.
“We may have our own internal issues but the best way to do it is to come to the office and discuss the issues. Let’s mature so that we rise above petty politics.”
The exchanges erupted after the DG faulted the county leadership for not facilitating him with adequate fuel, revealing that he had to dig into his pocket to fuel his vehicle.
The DG cited a pre-election agreement between the duo that led him to step down in favour of Mutai, as he urged the governor to accord him respect.
“The governor is here, he knows what we talked about when I was seeking the gubernatorial seat until I stepped down and joined him…he is the governor and I’m the deputy,” he said to mixed reactions from the crowd.
In Trans Nzoia, Kapkory has not set foot in her office for months owing her fallout with Governor Natembeya.
Even though phone calls and text message sent to her went answered, sources reveal that Kapkory has stayed away from office since last year.
When she appeared before the Senate Devolution Committee last year, the deputy governor narrated her frustrations, including a threat to her life by some county officers, after she differed with the governor.
"The threats issued against me were personal and the constant message was that I am not required to step in my office as I had become persona non grata," she said.
"The threats were to the effect that if I stepped in the office or if I was seen, the said officials were ready to deal with me."
The threats, she said, have been glaring as the officers even posted them on social media.
However, appearing before the same committee, Natembeya denied threatening the deputy and instead accused her deputy of absconding duties.
In Siaya, the relationship between Oduol and James Orengo has remained cold since last year when he (Oduol) survived impeachment at the Senate.
Oduol had been impeached by the MCAs but survived. He did not respond to our inquires on their current relationship. However, the Star established that their relationship is still strained.
