The impeachment of three County Executive Committee (CEC) members on Friday, August 30, marked a significant moment in local governance, reflecting the ongoing challenges within county administrations.
The three officials—Mr. Erick Kipkoech Ngetich (CEC for Roads, Public Works and Transport), Dr. Joseph Kirui (CEC for Administration, Public Service, and Special Programmes), and Mr. Andrew Kimutai Sigei (CEC for Finance and Economic Planning)—were removed from office due to allegations of gross violation of the 2010 Constitution, incompetence, and abuse of office.
Notably, none of the three appeared before the Select Committees tasked with reviewing their impeachment cases to present their defense. This absence likely contributed to the committees’ decisions to uphold the charges against them, leading to their removal from office. This incident underscores the importance of accountability and the scrutiny that public officials face, especially when they are accused of failing to uphold the principles of good governance.
The impeachment of the three County Executive Committee (CEC) members in Bomet County on Friday, August 30, was a decisive and unprecedented action in the county’s history, marking the first such removal of CECs since the onset of devolution 11 years ago.
The process saw 29 out of 38 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) present in the House vote unanimously to remove the officials from office, with none abstaining or supporting the CECs. The charges included gross violations of the 2010 Constitution, incompetence, and abuse of office.
This impeachment was the culmination of a significant fallout between Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and the 38 MCAs. Tensions arose after Governor Barchok claimed that each of the 25 counties had been allocated KSh 96 million for development projects through 10 departments.
The ensuing conflict likely fueled the MCAs’ resolve to hold the CECs accountable, ultimately leading to their removal in a process that extended late into Friday night. This event highlights the fragility of relations between the executive and legislative arms of county governments, particularly in the context of budgetary allocations and development priorities.
The impeachment of the three CEC members in Bomet County came after a significant dispute between Governor Hillary Barchok and the MCAs. The governor had claimed that each of the 25 counties was allocated KSh 96 million for development projects through 10 departments, but the MCAs denied this claim, leading to a public confrontation. The MCAs, along with members of the public, began demanding clarity on the projects funded since the August 9, 2022, general elections.
Bomet County Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir confirmed that all legal procedures were duly followed in the impeachment process. He emphasized that the CEC members had been given multiple opportunities to appear before the Select Committees to defend themselves, but they failed to do so. This situation led to the unanimous decision by the MCAs to remove the officials from office.
The public’s demand for transparency and accountability in the use of funds underscores the growing scrutiny on county governments regarding development projects and financial management.
Bomet County Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir emphasized the integrity and fairness of the impeachment process following the unanimous vote to remove the three CEC members from office. He acknowledged the contributions of the officials towards improving Bomet, stating, “All your contribution has gone towards making Bomet a better place, we want the government to succeed (in its undertakings to serve the people).”
Korir assured that the process was not driven by any form of witch-hunting but was conducted in a free and fair manner, reflecting the commitment of the assembly to uphold accountability and serve the interests of the public. This statement was made after the assembly reached its unanimous decision to impeach the CEC members, reinforcing the legitimacy of the proceedings and the assembly’s dedication to good governance.
Following the impeachment of the three County Executive Committee (CEC) members in Bomet County, Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir announced that the Select Committees responsible for handling the impeachment cases were officially dissolved. Korir confirmed that, as a result of the unanimous vote in the House, the CEC members who did not defend themselves are now legally removed from office.
This development provides Governor Hillary Barchok with the opportunity to select new nominees for the vacant CEC positions. The governor is expected to forward these nominees’ names to the County Assembly for screening and approval. The process marks a significant transition in the county’s administration, allowing for the appointment of new officials to carry forward the county’s development agenda.
The impeachment process against the three CEC members in Bomet County was marked by a last-minute attempt to delay proceedings. The CECs, represented by their lawyer Desmond Leteipa, requested a postponement of the hearings, claiming that they had not been served with the charges in time and needed more time to prepare their defense. They also indicated that they would appear at a later date.
However, the Select Committees handling the cases demonstrated that the parties had indeed been served through their lawyer, who had attended a pre-trial hearing the previous Friday. Mr. Leteipa acknowledged that he had received an electronic mail notifying him of the scheduled appearances for his clients.
Despite being granted a one-day extension by the respective Committees to allow them time to enter a plea, the CEC members—Mr. Erick Kipkoech Ngetich, Mr. Andrew Kimutai Sigei, and Dr. Joseph Kirui—failed to appear at the appointed time. Their absence further reinforced the Assembly’s decision to proceed with the impeachment, ultimately leading to their removal from office.
During the impeachment process, Mr. Desmond Leteipa, representing the three CEC members, chose not to enter a plea on their behalf. Instead, he stated that the CECs would prefer to enter their own pleas and subsequently submit written defenses to the committee.
The impeachment motion against Mr. Erick Kipkoech Ngetich was presented by Singorwet MCA Josephat Kipkirui to the select committee chaired by Kapletundo Ward MCA Peter Ronoh. Mr. Ngetich was found guilty of gross violation of the 2010 Constitution and abuse of office, leading to his removal from office.
The charges against Mr. Ngetich included the incurrence of pending bills amounting to KSh 594,650,580 as of April 26, 2023. These bills were deemed suspicious and linked to alleged misappropriation of funds within the Department of Roads. The serious nature of these allegations contributed significantly to the decision to impeach him.
