Now MCAs give notice to impeach Kericho governor

By NIKKO TANUI

KERICHO COUNTY: Governor Paul Chepkwony is staring at a possible sack after a notice of impeachment against him was filed at the local county assembly.

In the notice tabled by Albert Kipkoech and supported by all the 47 Members of the Kericho County Assembly (MCAs), Kipkoech lists five grounds for seeking to remove Chepkwony from office.

“Mr Speaker Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: That pursuant to Standing Order 60, the governor of Kericho County, Paul Kiprono Chepkwony be removed from office by impeachment,” Kipkoech notified assembly Speaker Japheth Mutai.

In Motion seen by The Standard, Chepkwony is accused of recruiting personnel and creating offices in the county contrary to the provision of Sections 59, 60, 61 and 62 of the County Government Act.

FLOUTED LAW

He is also accused of allegedly unlawfully procuring or permitting procurement of goods and services without following due process contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

The governor is also faulted for allegedly violating the provision of the County Government Act and Public Procurement Act on grants and donation received and failing to follow due process regarding public and private partnership.

“The governor has violated the provisions of Article 226(5), 220(2) and 73(2)(c)(1) of the Constitution,” reads the Motion.

The MCAs also claim Chepkwony has exposed the country to risk of loss or liability by signing contracts despite being fully aware.

Assembly Majority Leader Daniel Rono told the press the Motion is expected to come up for debate after seven days.

CERTIFICATE OF URGENCY

“The Motion of impeachment will take a week to mature and we will begin debating it from May 12. We are, however, going to give the governor a chance to appear before the assembly to defend himself. As an assembly, we are going to stick to the law to the letter and we are not going to jump any process,” said Rono.

Meanwhile, Chepkwony’s petition seeking a constitutional interpretation of the roles between the executive and the county assembly failed to proceed at Kericho High Court Wednesday. Kericho High Court judge Justice Joseph Sergon, who was supposed to hear the petition, was away on another official assignment.

All the 47 Members of Kericho County Assembly (MCAs) led by the Speaker Japheth Mutai had arrived at the court as early as 9am for the hearing, which did not materialise.

In the constitutional petition filed under a certificate of urgency, Chepkwony accuses the Assembly’s Speaker Japheth Mutai and the County Assembly of allegedly passing motions that contravene the Constitution.

The governor also accuses the assembly of passing a Motion to stop the department of Early Childhood Education and Vocational Training from implementing a bursary scheme for needy students.