The Senate has unanimously issued a directive to the National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, to present a motion for the impeachment of Public Service CS Moses Kuria.
This decision comes in the wake of Kuria’s recent Twitter post. The post on X (formerly Twitter), has been construed as an attempt to influence the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
In his tweet, CS Kuria identified 13 senators whom he alleged were being misled into supporting Mwangaza’s impeachment.
He urged them to reconsider, saying, “Stop it; from the evidence, you are being misled.”
Unanimous criticism by Senators
During the Senate session on Wednesday morning, Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot rose on a point of order. He expressed his desire to have a motion initiated in the lower house to impeach CS Kuria. He emphasized that Kuria’s actions consistently embarrassed the appointing authority.
”In fact, Mr Speaker, I agree with members of this house who have brought a motion of censure before to discuss the conduct of this particular minister because every given opportunity has done nothing but embarrass the appointing authority,” Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot lamented.
”In fact, it is my submission, Mr. Speaker, that the earlier CS Moses Kuria is let off his duties, the better for this administration because in every single day, in every action that he undertakes, he continues to embarrass the President and the People,” Cheruiyot, Kericho Senator, added.
Cheruiyot further asserted that removing CS Moses Kuria from his position would benefit the administration. He stated that Kuria’s actions continued to tarnish the reputation of the President and the nation.
Several other senators joined in the criticism of Kuria’s behavior, deeming it questionable and potentially damaging to the President’s standing.
‘Incorrigible national shame’
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna branded Kuria an “incorrigible national shame”. Sifuna also called for action to prevent further embarrassment to the President.
“If nothing is done about Moses Kuria, there is more embarrassment coming,” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said.
Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang implored senators aligned with the President to advise him on the matter.
He strongly emphasized the extent of the embarrassment caused by Kuria’s actions, not only to the government but also to the entire nation of Kenya and even East Africa due to certain deals he had been involved in.
The impeachment process
The Kenyan constitution, specifically Article 152, grants the President the authority to appoint Cabinet Secretaries.
However, the impeachment process is a complex one. It usually commences with a censure motion from the National Assembly as stipulated in Clause 6 of the Article.
The motion also requires the support of at least one-third of the house members. It would further trigger the formation of an 11-member committee to investigate the allegations against the CS before a final verdict is reached.
