Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has narrowly survived his second impeachment attempt within a year.
The motion to impeach him failed by just one vote, as 22 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) supported the move, falling short of the 23 votes required to meet the threshold for impeachment.
Speaker Enock Okero declared the results, noting that out of 34 total votes, 22 supported the motion, while 12 opposed it. With no abstentions, the motion was defeated, allowing Governor Nyaribo to remain in office.
The impeachment motion, brought forward by nominated MCA Evans Matunda, accused Governor Nyaribo of violating Article 181 of the Constitution of Kenya, the County Governments Act (2012), and the Nyamira County Assembly’s Standing Orders.
The charges against the governor included gross misconduct, abuse of office, and misuse of public funds. However, Governor Nyaribo’s legal team, led by advocate Jacob Ngwele, argued that the accusations were based on unfounded rumors and lacked substantial evidence.
This was the second attempt to oust Nyaribo, following a failed impeachment effort in October 2023, where the motion was similarly defeated by a narrow margin.
After the results, Majority Leader Abel Mose called for unity among the MCAs and urged them to stop the repeated impeachment attempts, emphasizing the need for peace to allow the governor to fulfill his mandate to the people of Nyamira County.
Governor Nyaribo’s legal team also called for dialogue among leaders to ensure better cooperation for the county’s development.
