Treat as rumour – Kisii County Speaker rubbishes anti-Arati impeachment motion 

Kisii County Assembly Speaker Phillip Nyanumba Tuesday dismissed a reports of a proposed motion by a United Democratic Alliance Ward Rep to impeach Governor Simba Arati.

He termed it a ‘mere rumour’.

He told journalists to verify information about the purported motion before filing the stories on their respective media house platforms.

“I want to clarify it here that there is no formal notice or motion for impeachment had been filed before the Assembly Clerk,” he said during a dinner at the Governor’s residence in Bobasi.

“As of now, there is no such motion before this House. What is being spread out there is pure speculation and rumours,” the Speaker said.

The Speaker autioned the MCAs against divisive politics insisting that the Assembly’s focus remains on legislation and oversight aimed at improving service delivery to the people of Kisii.

The remarks come amid reports that Masimba Ward Rep Bouse Mairura was planning to file an impeachment charge against the governor.

He alleged misuse of public funds over a phone call last week.

The UDA Ward Rep claimed that at least 36 MCAs had already signed the petition to remove Arati from office.

Mairura defended himself saying he was acting within his mandate as a Ward Representative in filing impeachment charge against the governor.

“It is our duty as elected leaders to speak out when the people are not receiving the services they deserve,” Mairura said.

“This is not about politics — it’s about performance.”

But his rhetoric has been found to be baseless for now.

In Kenya, the impeachment of a governor is governed by Article 181 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), as well as the County Governments Act (2012) and the Standing Orders of the County Assemblies.

According to Article 181(1) of the Constitution, a county governor may be removed from office on gross violation of the Constitution or Any Other Law which includes violating provisions of the Constitution or other national legislation, breaching Chapter Six of the Constitution (Leadership and Integrity).

The Governor can also be sacked for ommitting a Crime Under National or International Law especially graft, abuse of office, fraud.

Other grounds constitute crimes against humanity.

Any serious criminal offense that affects the integrity of the office.

A motion in the County assembly only requires at least two-thirds of the county assembly members to sail through.

If passed, the matter goes to the Senate, which investigates the charges.

If the Senate upholds the impeachment by a majority vote, the governor is removed from office.

As political temperatures begin to rise in Kisii, residents and observers alike are watching closely to see if Mairura’s challenge will spark broader scrutiny of the county’s leadership.