Nyamira Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have set a special session to deliberate the impeachment of Governor Amos Nyaribo, according to a notice dated September 14.
In a notice addressed to the county assembly speaker, the MCAs requested that the special sitting be scheduled for September 22, 2023.
The notice invoked the County Assembly of Nyamira’s Standing Order number 28(1)(2)(3)(4).
“It is notified for the general information of the Members of the County Assembly and the general public that there shall be a special sitting for the County Assembly of Nyamira on Friday, September 22, 2023, at 9.30 am in the Assembly chambers,” the notice reads in part.
The primary agenda for the session will be “to give notice of a motion for the removal from office by impeachment of Amos Kimwomi Nyaribo, the Governor of Nyamira County.”
Clan-based persecution or corruption?
The move to impeach Governor Nyaribo follows the controversy surrounding his dismissal of County Health Minister Timothy Ombati.
The MCAs have criticized the governor’s decision, describing it as irregular.
Governor Nyaribo, however, defended his actions, alleging that Ombati was removed from his position due to corruption allegations.
According to the governor, Ombati had misappropriated Ksh22 million intended for the purchase of drugs for multiple hospitals in the county.
The MCAs, led by Deputy Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro and Deputy Majority Leader Duke Masira, disagreed with the governor’s explanation. They argued that Ombati was a victim of clan-based persecution and should not be held responsible for the mismanaged funds.
Instead, they pointed fingers at the chief officer, who serves as the health ministry’s accounting officer.
Timothy Ombati, in response to his termination, enlisted the services of lawyer Danstan Omari to file a lawsuit against the governor, alleging unlawful dismissal.
Ombati claimed that he was not granted a fair opportunity to defend himself and was terminated without proper explanation. In his court papers, he also emphasized that the primary reason for his termination was allegedly causing embarrassment to the governor, which, according to him, is not a valid justification for summary dismissal under the County Government Act.
