Year impeachment was MCAs favourite weapon

Embu Governor Martin Wambora

NAIROBI: With devolution taking root after last year's general elections, 2014 was marked with impeachment proceedings and supremacy battles between members of county assembly and governors over the running of county affairs.

Embu and Kericho governors became the first few casualties of impeachment proceedings while others survived as MCAs flexed their constitutional muscles.

Embu Governor Martin Wambora endured two successive impeachment proceedings after a bitter fallout with the county assembly before the courts intervened - keeping him in office against all odds.

In January, the Embu assembly voted to remove Wambora and his deputy Dorothy Nditi who were accused of corruption and flouting procurement laws.

However, the Senate approved Wambora's impeachment but saved his deputy despite a spirited fight from Wambora.

The High Court, however, stopped the swearing in of Wambora's deputy as the governor and reinstated him.

The move led to a stand off with MCAs voting to impeach Wambora for a second time in April despite talks to reconcile the two factions.

GROSS VIOLATION

In May, Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony  became the second casualty in South Rift after he was impeached by MCAs over alleged gross violation of the Constitution among other allegations.

Chepkwony was impeached after a serious fallout with MCAs over alleged breach of the Public Private Partnership Act, Public Finance Management Act and Public procurement and Disposal Act. Some 32 MCAs voted in favour of Chepkwony's removal, while 15 abstained, effectively setting in motion impeachment proceedings at the Senate.

The MCAs accused the governor of flouting the law in procurement of ambulance services from E-Plus Company, which is affiliated to the Kenya Red Cross, and entering into a contract with Bluetechs, a British-based company.

The events were sparked off on April 30 when Chepkwony moved to court and filed a constitutional petition seeking an interpretation on the distinction between the roles of the County Executive and those of the County Assembly.

However, at the senate, Chepkwony weathered the storm as Senator Committee led by Kisii Senator Chris Obure cleared him from all allegations raised by the county assembly.

When the report got to the floor of the House, it was reprieve for Chepkwony as senators adopted the report without making any amendments, effectively reinstating he embattled county boss.

In Baringo County, an impeachment attempt on Governor Benjamin Cheboi failed after the House Business Committee quashed it over alleged breach of standing orders.

Minority Leader Thomas Minito had filed the notice to impeach the governor over alleged misappropriation of emergency funds, irregular rendering and failure to allocate 30 per cent of county jobs to minorities as stipulated in law.

Machakos Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala became the first deputy to be removed by the County assembly after a fallout with Governor Alfred Mutua. However, senators voted to reject a report by special committee which had recommended Kiala's removal in August.