Governors want the constitution amended to allow them more time after assuming office before an ouster process can be initiated.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 4, Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa indicated that it would be fair if county chiefs were given more time to work.
Barasa, a first time governor, stated that county chiefs require fair treatment like the national assembly.
“As Council of Governors let us establish a period of let's say 24 months in the impeachment law so that governors can be given a period to show their work.
That's the only way we can be fair. If you look at the national assembly, they have 12 months as a legal clause,” he noted.
He stated that the current procedure was not giving the county bosses ample time to showcase their work.
“We need to have a minimum threshold on MCAs to impeach governors. We cannot impeach a governor who has not yet begun working.
I want to appeal to the national government and the national assembly to pass an impeachment motion,” he uttered.
Barasa made reference to Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment which was tabled a few months after assuming office.
He applauded the senators for dismissing Kawira’s impeachment bid on the basis of insufficient evidence aduced by MCAs.
“Let me take this chance and thank our senators for protecting devolution and dismissing Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment motion last week," he lauded.
Barasa stated that the constitution of Kenya needed concerted efforts from all quarters to stand protected.
In a petition filed at the Kakamega law courts on November 20, 2022, activist Memba Ocharo asked the court to intervene in adding a time frame in law to shield governors from being impeached immediately after they are sworn in.
“If not stopped, the MCAs will continue misusing their powers and mandates to the detriment of some of the governors,” he challenged.
