Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's impeachment woes escalated as MCAs formally kickstarted the process to eject him from office.
The notice of impeachment motion against Sonko was moved by Embakasi Ward MCA Michael Ogada who stated that 86 ward representatives had appended their signatures in support of the motion.
The removal plan comes after a budget stalemate where Sonko refused to sign the Ksh37.5 billion annual county budget.
The delay in signing the budget has affected the operations of the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) which handles the majority of the county government's functions.
There was a heavy police presence outside City Hall as the county legislators embarked on the impeachment process.
The MCAs were reported to have had a meeting at Capitol Hill where they hatched a new plot to deal with Sonko's hardline position against the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).
This marks the second time, the governor has faced impeachment with the first time being in February 2020.
The initial motion was tabled by Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) who cited alleged gross violation of the constitution and the Public Finance Act 2012 as well as the inability to control and manage public debts and clear pending expenses.
Imwatok's motion further accused Sonko of exhibiting incompetence and failing to offer leadership.
According to the constitution, an MCA tabling the impeachment motion must receive the support of at least one-third of the total assembly membership. The motion, however, requires the support of at least two-thirds of all MCAs (in this case 82) for the impeachment to stand.
If the motion goes through, the county assembly speaker informs the speaker of the Senate within two days.
The information is in writing and refers to the county assembly resolution passed to impeach the governor.
All this while, the governor continues to perform the functions of the office pending the outcome of the impeachment process.
The process progress to the Senate where the members hear the charges the county assembly brought against the governor and appionts a special committee comprising of eleven of its members to investigate the matter.
Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru is the latest governor to survive an impeachment motion after she was cleared of all the charges levelled against her.
The 11- member committee found that the two charges against the governor of - gross violation of the constitution; and abuse of office and gross misconduct were not substantiated.
