Nairobi governor Mike Sonko on Wednesday, February 19, saved himself from a plan by the Nairobi County Assembly members to impeach him from office.
In a report by the Daily Nation on Thursday, February 20, Sonko used a plan that caused a lack of quorum in the assembly leading to a collapse of the motion in the assembly.
With an outright fear that the process fronted by MCAs from the Orange Democratic Movement may be introduced in the house, the governor reached out to all the Jubilee Party ward representatives to cripple the process.
In a hurried move, Governor Sonko summoned the Jubilee Party MCAs for a meeting at his private office in Upper Hill early in the morning, to ostensibly forestall any plans to oust him.
The Nation further indicated that the governor held the over 50 MCAs in his office for several hours meeting, which was attended by more than 50 Jubilee MCAs only to be let free after it was confirmed that there was no impeachment motion.
According to an MCA who had attended the meeting, governor Sonko begged the members not to participate in his censure motion in any way.
“He called us some minutes to 8 am for a meeting. This was meant to frustrate the House’s quorum,” remarked the MCA as quoted by the Nation.
According to Roysambu ward MCA Peter Warutere, fear spread when some members in the house were removed from the house business committee, a move that was followed by the governor inviting the 62 MCAs to his office.
The move by the governor succeeded as only 10 Jubilee Party MCAs were present in the house.
“We (Jubilee MCAs) are at Upper Hill with the governor. The governor called for a meeting before the plenary. We are here to discuss the issue of the coming notice of motion on the impeachment of Governor Sonko,” remarked Warutere.
Sonko was also able to reach out to the Orange Democratic Party members in the assembly through a letter sent to them by ODM Nairobi county chairman who is also Makadara constituency MP George Aladwa.
According to Citizen TV, Aladwa, through a letter to Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi, claimed to have been directed by ODM leader Raila Odinga to instruct the ODM MCAs in the county not to support the governor’s impeachment.
“As such, you are hereby directed not to vote and/or append your signatures on any proposed impeachment unless advised otherwise. Kindly be guided accordingly,” wrote Aladwa.
However, Aladwa’s letter was later overruled by ODM Secretary General Edwin who indicated that official communication on the party position on any matter is only given by his office.
He further added that the party valued independence in members’ positions and neither the ODM party nor the party leader would interfere with the power of oversight granted to the assembly members by directing on their decision.
“The Party has become aware through social media of a letter allegedly written by Nairobi County Chair George Aladwa.
“Aladwa purportedly directing ODM MCAs in the county assembly not to endorse or participate in an impeachment process to remove Governor of Nairobi, Hon. Mike Mbuvi Sonko,” remarked Sifuna.
