Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has been impeached by 23 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in a dramatic and highly contested vote marred by questions over legality and procedure.
Twenty-eight MCAs were present during Tuesday’s sitting when the impeachment motion was put to vote, while 12 members stayed away.
In a controversial decision, Speaker Thadeus Nyabaro allowed six MCAs to cast votes on behalf of their absent colleagues raising the tally to the threshold of 23 required to forward the matter to the Senate.
This decision was made despite the existence of sworn affidavits from the 12 absent MCAs indicating they did not wish to participate in the vote.
MCAs Alfayo Ngeresa Mabera (Mekenene), Emmanuel Gisesa (Rigoma), Joel Ombongi (Bokeira), and Lameck Sikweya Onyancha (Itibo) were among those permitted to vote for their absent counterparts. Others included Julius Nyangana (Bobwagamo), Henry Obwaya (Gachuba), and nominated MCAs Jeria Nyakangi, Priscilla Nyatichi, and Elijah Abere.
Governor Nyaribo was accused of abuse of office in a motion brought by Bonyamatuta MCA Kimwomi Matwere.
Speaker Nyabaro has since confirmed he will transmit the impeachment documents to the Senate as required by law, which mandates that the Senate Speaker be notified within 48 hours for further action.
However, the governor’s legal team has dismissed the vote as unconstitutional and signaled plans to rely on recent Senate precedents.
They cited the cases of Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, whose impeachment processes were dismissed on technical grounds.
Nyaribo, who took office in late 2020 following the death of former Governor John Nyagarama, has survived two previous impeachment attempts—both characterized by deep divisions within the Assembly.
In October 2023, a previous motion against him split the Assembly, with a faction led by then-speaker Enock Okero holding parallel sessions dubbed Bunge Mashinani outside the official chambers. Court interventions and the eventual ouster of Okero helped restore order.
Another attempt in September 2024, sponsored by nominated MCA Evans Matunda, collapsed after the pro-impeachment faction secured only 22 votes—one shy of the required 23.
Currently, the Assembly has 32 sitting members due to three pending by-elections, meaning the pro-impeachment side needed exactly 23 votes to meet the constitutional threshold.
The Senate will now be tasked with determining whether the vote met that requirement and whether the process adhered to the law.
