The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo was removed from office after 23 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voted in favour of his impeachment.
Out of the 28 MCAs present during the session, 12 others stayed away. Speaker Thadeus Nyabaro, however, permitted six MCAs to cast votes on behalf of their absent colleagues in order to meet the required threshold for forwarding the motion to the Senate.
This decision was made despite a sworn affidavit from the 12 absentee MCAs stating their opposition to the move. Those whose votes were cast in absentia included Alfayo Ngeresa Mabera (Mekenene), Emmanuel Gisesa (Rigoma), Joel Ombongi (Bokeira), and Lameck Sikweya Onyancha (Itibo). Also listed were Julius Nyangana (Bobwagamo), Henry Obwaya (Gachuba), Jeria Nyakangi (Nominated), Priscilla Nyatichi (Nominated), and Elijah Abere (Nominated).
The impeachment motion, initiated by Bonyamatuta MCA Kimwomi Matwere, accused Nyaribo of abuse of office, among other charges. The Speaker has confirmed that the impeachment documents will be forwarded to the Senate.
By law, the County Assembly Speaker must notify the Senate Speaker within 48 hours, after which senators will be informed of the charges and a hearing date will be scheduled.
Amid the dispute on whether the required threshold was legitimately achieved, Nyaribo’s legal team intends to rely on Senate precedents in which similar impeachment attempts against Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Kericho Governor Eric Mutai were dismissed on technicalities.
Nyaribo, who assumed office in late 2020 following the death of Governor John Nyagarama, has twice faced impeachment attempts in the past with similar accusations.
In October 2023, MCAs attempted to remove him, but he survived, leaving the Assembly deeply divided. A faction led by the ousted Speaker Enock Okero even held separate sittings known as Bunge Mashinani outside the official chambers.
It took several court battles and rulings—including the High Court’s decision upholding Okero’s removal—to reunite the Assembly.
Less than a year later, in September 2024, nominated MCA Evans Matunda initiated another impeachment bid, but it collapsed after pro-impeachment MCAs secured only 22 votes—one short of the required 23.
With the Assembly currently having 32 of its 35 seats filled due to pending by-elections, Nyaribo needed support from at least 12 MCAs to block the motion. It will now be up to the Senate to verify whether the tally of 23 votes was valid.
