Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka has backed a plan by County Assembly Speakers seeking to make it impossible for Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to impeach them.
During their induction in Mombasa, the county speakers held discussions with Lusaka on how to increase the threshold of an indictment.
Lusaka stated after the meeting: "You don't have to disagree with your MCAs in the morning then they mobilize others in the afternoon to move a motion of impeachment."
Forum chair Johnson Osoi announced that they want to amend the law and add more processes other than the current requirement of support from 75 percent of the county assembly's membership.
[caption caption="Kajiado County Assembly Speaker and Speakers' Forum Chair Johnson Osoi"]
[/caption]
He stated that a court must find a speaker culpable of violating the constitution before removal from office, noting that such a provision is lacking in the County Government Act of 2012.
"In the absence of such determination, it is nonsense," he affirmed.
Osoi proposed that a Speaker be required to appear before the Senate in case of removal as is the case for Governors.
"There should be an opportunity for a speaker to defend himself. In fact, to remove a speaker you don't need to send him to the Senate like you do for Governor," he divulged.
Osoi accused the first county assemblies of abusing the powers to impeach.
[caption caption="Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi"]
[/caption]
Trans Nzoia and Kisumu MCAs removed their respective speakers, while the process was barred by courts in Mombasa, Baringo, and Isiolo.Failed attempts were made against Nairobi, Makueni, Narok, Nakuru and Nandi speakers.
