Bomet Finance executive staring at impeachment

Bomet, Kenya: A motion seeking the impeachment of Finance Executive David Cheruiyot has been tabled in the county assembly.

The mover of the motion, Kembu Ward Rep Julius Korir, said the executive had shown his incompetence by misleading the assembly on crucial financial matters.

Mr Korir also petitioned Governor Isaac Ruto to dismiss Cheruiyot on grounds of incompetence, gross misconduct and gross violation of the Public Finance Management Act and the Constitution.

"Mr Cheruiyot has repeatedly failed to adhere to the tenets of the Public Finance Management Act 2012. That is why we have urged the governor to dismiss him," said Korir.

He said the motion had received overwhelming support from most members of the county assembly. Twelve have already appended their signatures to enable the motion to be debated in the House.

"The situation at the county treasury is grave. As MCAs, we will not hesitate to stamp our authority on matters that touch on the county's funds," Cheruiyot told the Press outside the chamber after tabling the motion on Tuesday.

The motion comes in the wake of a new report by an ad-hoc committee established to probe a Sh36.5 million overdraft, which was adopted by the MCAs. The report recommended the Finance executive's impeachment.

HEFTY FINES

Korir said besides the overdraft, the executive's office had failed to remit MCAs' gratuity to a contracted insurer, leading to heavy fines being levied on them.

He said Korir had also, on several occasions, failed to submit monthly bank loans remittance for MCAs and county staff, leading to fines.

"It is very unfortunate that the Finance executive has conducted himself unprofessionally through acts that have embarrassed members and the county," said Cheruiyot.

This will be the second time in six months that the ward reps are attempting to impeach the finance boss on the same grounds.

Last year, a number of MCAs led by Siongiroi Ward Rep Leonard Kirui saved the Finance executive from being sent packing after engineering a motion rescinding his impeachment, 24 hours after the House adopted the impeachment motion.