Tension gripped a function in Matungulu North Ward on Friday after area MCA Mathias Mambo was publicly humiliated by residents in front of top county leadership.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, and several Members of the County Assembly had visited the ward for a development tour, but what was meant to be a unifying event quickly turned into a political embarrassment for the local representative.
Drama unfolded when Mambo rose to address the crowd. No sooner had he taken the microphone than a wave of boos and heckles erupted from the audience, forcing him to cut short his remarks.
Visibly shaken, Mambo hastily handed over the microphone to Matungulu MCA Raphael Nzau Lucky, who then proceeded to welcome the MCAs on his behalf.
But the embarrassment didn’t end there.
Each time other MCAs attempted to defend Mambo, the heckling only intensified, with some residents shouting an indication of the MCA’s alleged detachment from his ward.
It took the intervention of Governor Wavinya Ndeti to restore calm. Taking the microphone, Wavinya acknowledged the growing discontent but also attempted to vouch for Mambo’s behind-the-scenes efforts.
“Mambo has been to my office countless times lobbying for development projects,” she said. “But the issue is that once the projects begin, he doesn’t return to the ground to follow up, so his people don’t see what he’s doing.”
She added, “You’ve asked me to tell him to move out of Mlolongo and come home. I have heard you.”
The crowd erupted in applause, signaling both agreement and frustration.
Mambo, who was elected as an independent in 2022, now finds himself walking a political tightrope.
If Friday’s events are anything to go by, his re-election prospects are under serious threat unless he mends ties with his constituents and increases visibility on the ground.
