Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo is battling his removal from office through impeachment for the third time, following the approval of an order paper for a special sitting scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025.
The order paper from the fourth session of the third Assembly of the Nyamira County Assembly gives notice of a motion for the removal of Governor Nyaribo from office by way of impeachment on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution of Kenya, abuse of office, and breach of other laws.
The notice of motion has been moved by Julius Matwere, the Member of the County Assembly (MCA) for Bonyamatuta Ward.
Circulation of the order paper has raised concerns among leaders within and beyond Nyamira County and has stirred tension between supporters and opponents of the highly charged political motion.
Nyaribo survived a second impeachment attempt by a whisker in September last year after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) failed to attain the two-thirds voting threshold required for his removal.
Twenty-two MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment, while twelve opposed it.
The House required 23 votes for the motion to pass, meaning Nyaribo survived by just one vote out of the 34 cast.
Last year’s impeachment motion, moved by Evans Matunda, a nominated MCA from the Wiper Party, accused the governor of grossly violating the Constitution and other laws, denying students their right to education, violating the Nyamira County Persons with Disability Act (2023) by failing to constitute the Disability Board, and failing to maintain the county wage bill within the legal threshold as required by the Public Finance Management Act, among other allegations.
In October 2023, Nyaribo survived his first impeachment, where he faced 12 charges brought by Esise Ward MCA Josiah Mang’era. The accusations included flagging off empty containers disguised as medical supplies, illegal staff recruitment, and disobeying court orders.
Proponents of that motion lost their numerical advantage on the floor, with only 18 MCAs voting for impeachment, despite 28 MCAs having earlier appended their signatures supporting the motion.
County residents have decried the perennial impeachment attempts, saying they have created deep political divisions, heightened anxiety, distracted leaders from service delivery, and stalled development projects. With the country approaching another general election, many residents say Nyamira has little to show in terms of progress.
— By Deborah Bochere
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