Nyamira Members of County Assembly (MCA) have scheduled a special sitting to deliberate on impeaching Governor Amos Nyaribo.
In the notice dated September 14, the MCAs wrote to the speaker of the county assembly asking him to set the special sitting for September 22.
Talks of Nyaribo’s denunciation were rife last week following his dismissal of County Health Minister Timothy Ombati.
“Pursuant to the Standing Order number 28(1)(2)(3)(4) of the County Assembly of Nyamira, it is notified for the general information of the Members of the County Assembly and the general public that there shall be a special sitting for the County Assembly of Nyamira on Friday the September 22, 2023, at 9.30 am in the Assembly chambers,” the letter read in part.
“The business to be transacted shall be to give a notice of motion for removal from office by impeachment of Amos Kimwomi Nyaribo, the Governor of Nyamira County."
According to the MCAs, the health minister’s dismissal was irregular.
However, Nyaribo countered their claims stressing that Ombati was sacked due to corruption allegations.
The governor argued that the health officer had misappropriated Ksh22 million meant for the purchase of drugs for several hospitals in the county.
The MCAs led by the deputy speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro and the Deputy Majority Leader Duke Masira, were not convinced and instead asserted that Ombati was the victim of a witch hunt on clannism grounds.
They went on to defend the health minister saying that he was not liable for the misplaced funds, adding that the first person on the chopping block should be the chief officer, who is the health ministry’s accounting officer.
On his end, Ombati sought the services of lawyer Danstan Omari to sue the Governor for what he termed unlawful termination.
The health minister claims that he was not given a fair hearing to defend himself and was instead fired without explanation.
“That also key to the petition is the fact that the prominent reason for termination is alleged embarrassment to the governor which reasons he says that is not contemplated in the County government act as warranting the summary dismissal from service of a CEO,” read Ombati's court papers.
