A total of 34 MCAs convened to hold a hearing against him, and out of which, 22 lawmakers voted in favor of the governor’s impeachment.
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo on Tuesday, September 17 escaped impeachment by Members of the County Assembly (MCA) who voted on a motion to ouster him.
During the voting exercise at the county assembly, a total of 34 MCAs convened to hold a hearing against him, and out of which, 22 lawmakers voted in favour of the governor’s impeachment.
12 others, however, voted against the impeachment motion while 0 abstained. The county boss however survived by a hair’s breadth after the 22 in support of his impeachment fell just one shy of the 23 threshold required to throw him out of office, hence surviving impeachment for the second time.
A photo of Nyamira County headquarters. /STANDARD DIGITAL
During the hearing, the governor failed to appear at the County Assembly and instead sent his legal team and executive committee to represent him. Led by County Attorney Erustus Orina, Advocates Jacob Ngwele, and Julius Anyoka, the lawyers defended the Governor against the impeachment allegations.
“The threshold needed to impeach the governor stands at 22.6, which is 23 and so the governor survives,” Speaker Enock Okero announced after the vote.
Nyaribo was accused of gross violation of the Constitution of Kenya and other Laws, abuse of office and gross misconduct. Evans Juma Matunda, an MCA, tabled the motion.
“Pursuant to Article 181 of the constitution, Section 3B of the County Government Act and the standing orders number 62 of the Nyamira County Assembly standing orders, this assembly has resorted to impeach the Governor”, one of the MCAs said while moving the motion.
Outside the Assembly, Nyamira residents caused a standstill as the hearing continued as they demanded their voices to be heard. The residents protesting against the governor were seen hoisting placards showing their opposition to the governor’s leadership.
In October 2023, Governor Nyaribo survived an impeachment attempt after 16 MCAs voted for his ouster while 18 voted against it.
In August 2024, a section of Nyamira Residents filed a petition to have the entire devolved unit in their county disbanded, claiming that it had failed to adequately deliver services to them as is their mandate.
Governor Nyaribo was accused of drawing a hefty Ksh6.5 Million a month, a figure he explained was because of pending arrears which in part emanated from his time as deputy governor.
On February 16, 2023, Nyamira Law Courts upheld Nyaribo’s victory during the August 9, 2022, general elections, with Magistrate Kimondo Kanyi ruling that the petitioners did not produce sufficient evidence for the nullification of the election exercise.
Kanyi added that the election exercise was conducted according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) constitution and was fair, free and transparent.
Embattled Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo. /NAIROBI NEWS