Ruto Dragged into Gov Samboja's Impeachment Saga

Deputy President William Ruto was on Tuesday, October 14, accused of having a hand in the impeachment of Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja.

Reports by Daily Nation indicated that a section of local leaders claimed that Ruto allegedly organised meetings, in Nairobi and Mombasa, that pushed for his impeachment.

Samboja was impeached on October 9, by 30 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) who accused him of gross misconduct. The High court on Friday, however, temporarily suspended the County Assembly’s decision to remove him from office.

According to Taita Taveta ODM Elections Coordinator Thomas Jumwa, the action by the MCAs had the blessings of the deputy president.

Jumwa accused the DP of instigating the impeachment motion to hit back at Samboja.

According to Jumwa, Samboja had declared his support for the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, putting his at crossroads with Ruto.

“We are aware that the DP met the MCAs twice and they also met some of his supporters in Nairobi and Mombasa,” he stated.

“The MCAs are the deputy president’s guns for hire. That assembly’s resolution will not see the light of day even after it is presented to the Senate for further action,” vowed Jumwa. 

Taita Taveta Jubilee Party Secretary Nerious Mwanose, however, strongly dismissed the said claims against Ruto arguing that the DP didn't sponsor MCAs to frustrate the governor.

"The MCAs’ move has nothing to do with the deputy president. These allegations are false," he affirmed.

The claims against Ruto were sparked by the DP's tour to the county in September 15, where he dismissed Samboja's decision to dissolve the county government, terming the move as petty.

He later held a private meeting with MCAs led by Speaker Maghanga at Sarova Taita Hills Hotel in Mwatate, where he assured them that the president would not dissolve the county government.

Samboja then quickly told Ruto off, stating that he did not need Ruto’s help nor counsel over his county's internal affairs. Instead, the governor reached out to President Kenyatta and Odinga. 

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“We don’t need his counsel and that is why even when I said we should dissolve the county assembly, I reached out to every other national leader but him. The petition will not land at his desk, so he cannot purport to speak on behalf of the presidency,” Samboja had charged.

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