Senators revisit Sonko ouster in push for new impeachment law » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 23- The Senate has initiated debate on a Bill that seeks to raise the bar on the removal of Governors and their executives by County Assemblies.
The County Governments (Amendment) Bill seeks to raise the threshold for the impeachment of Governors in the county Assemblies.
The County Governments (Amendment) Bill is sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.
It seeks to protect Governors and County executives from unnecessary impeachments.
The Senators said there is a need to ensure governors are not ejected from office unfairly.
During a debate session on the 18th of April 2024, a section of senators raised concerns about how former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko was removed from office.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot said there is a need to have legislation that will ensure county bosses are treated fairly.
“It was demonstrated here that the threshold for the impeachment of former Governor Sonko was not achieved at the County Assembly of Nairobi yet there are many things that happen in an impeachment exercise,” Senator Cheruiyot said.
“Impeachment has become a political process yet they have very serious and legal consequences.”
The Senators debated that the County Governments (Amendment) Bill should raise the threshold for the impeachment of a governor from a third to two-thirds.
“I like the fact that we are raising the threshold. By the time two-thirds of the assembly agree and concur that something is wrong with you then there is a problem somewhere. A third was too low,” Senator Cheruiyot added.
In his presentation, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua also supported the Bill saying it is long overdue.
“We have seen governors go through anguish and pain of impeachment for reasons other than the provision of the constitution on the removal of governors,” he said.
“To date, I believe there were no grounds for removal of Governor Sonko from office. I believe he was removed from office for other reasons and not the breach of the constitution.”
He regretted that the decision had wasted the former governor Sonko dearly so much so that he could not hold public office.
Senator Wambua asked the committee on devolution to take the matter seriously to save the executive from more anguish and pain.
“Mr Speaker, a very young leader, very robust and a man of people cannot hold office because he was impeached for extra reasons.”
“Let the committee on devolution take up this matter and bring a proper bill on the impeachment of a governor.”
Wambua said there is a need for a watertight impeachment law to block politicians from using impeachment to settle political scores.
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu Muthama supported the Bill saying many have fallen victim to witch hunt.
She said the intended law should be shielded from compromise either by the Senate or the county assemblies.
Others who supported the Bill include; Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thangwa, Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute and nominated Senator Beth Syengo.
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