CoG seeks to raise threshold of impeaching governors

Kirinyaga Governor who is also the chairperson of the Council of Governors Ann Waiguru flanked by other governors address the press at the Delta Towers, Nairobi on October 02, 2023 after she was re-elected to the position. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

The Council of Governors is seeking to make it difficult to impeach governors just like the President and Members of Parliament saying that the process has been abused in the past.

CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru said that the governors were concerned that their rivals were engineering impeachment proceedings against them when they fail to honour some unacceptable practices and it was high time to raise the threshold of kicking out a county boss from office.

Waiguru was addressing journalists at the CoG offices in Nairobi, yesterday, after a full council meeting where they held elections in which she retained her position as Chairperson with Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi as Vice Chairperson and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang as the Council Whip.

“The Council of Governors will be making recommendations to the National Dialogue Committee that the threshold of removing Governors from office should be raised so that some individuals cannot abuse the process with an intention of holding governors at ransom so that they cannot deliver,” she said.

Currently Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is facing a second impeachment after the Senate saved her from a similar predicament last year while Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo is also in trouble after MCAs tabled an impeachment motion against him in the assembly last week.

The CoG Chairperson said that some of the issues to be presented to the National Dialogue Committee include funding and periodic costing of national and county functions, increase of the equitable share of revenue for the county governments to 45 per cent, establishment of a borrowing framework by the counties and delimitation of boundaries for the counties.

Waiguru assured that county governments are committed to deliver their mandate in a focused and coordinated manner while endeavoring to continue harnessing potential opportunities for prosperity to ensure citizens access timely and quality services.

“Through various consultative processes, county governments now receive their equitable share of funds within the stipulated time, we held a successful first Biennial Devolution Conference in Uasin Gishu county, we are working in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee to ensure the unbundling of functions is finalized,” she said.

During the CoG elections Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was replaced by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga as the Chairperson of the Human Resource, Labour and Social Welfare Committee.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti was replaced as the Chairperson of the Trade, Industry, Manufacturing and Enterprise Development Committee by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika while Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana was replaced as the Chairperson of the Security and Foreign Affairs Committee by Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki retained his position as Health Committee Chairperson while Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka as the Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Committee Chairperson and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama as the Chairperson Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and Disaster Risk Management Committee.

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai was retained as Education Committee Chairperson while Lamu Governor Issa Timamy as Blue Economy Committee Chairperson and Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu as the Chairperson of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee.

Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime was retained as the Chairperson of the Water, Forestry and Natural Resource Management Committee while Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo as the Chairperson of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.