MCAs Given Ultimatum on Governor Ole Lenku's Impeachment Motion

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku at  Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) on February 15, 2023
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku at Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) on February 15, 2023
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Ole Lenku

A committee of 11 members of the Kajiado County assembly has been given up to seven days to table a report on the impeachment motion against the county governor, Joseph Ole Lenku.

Speaker Justus Ngossor gave the MCAS the one week duration to investigate the governor and table a report before him. 

Ngossor further cautioned the politicians against commenting on the issue across any social media platform or even a public forum.

“All honourable members are directed not to comment until verified,” the county speaker ordered. 

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his wife Edna Chelangat during a past event.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his wife Edna Chelangat during a past event.
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Ole Lenku, an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) governor, was accused of abuse of office, including corruption, awarding tenders to proxies, as well as giving job opportunities to his allies.

The accusations were tabled by a county employee through the MCAs.

Kajiado County's communication director, Billy Muiruri, confirmed that the motion was in place, but argued that the governor had the full backing of the MCAs.

"The county employee is still earning a salary from the government and has not been fired contrary to reports," Muiruri told Kenyans.co.ke. 

The county has been marred with a power struggle since the start of the year, with Azimio MCAs threatening to impeach Speaker Justus Ngossur over alleged gross impartiality and blatantly siding with UDA legislators.

In February 2023, over 16 Azimio MCAs accused the Speaker of gross impartiality during House debates.

A month later, Ole Lenku's Education CEC Jeremiah Ole Ncharo narrowly survived being kicked out of office. The CEC was accused of irregular bursary disbursement, abuse of office,  incompetence and misuse of public resources.

21 MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment motion, while 20 MCAs rejected it. 

The looming motion against Ole Lenku comes a few days after his Meru counterpart, Kawira Mwangaza, survived her second impeachment.

Senators declined to uphold her ouster, as the majority voted against all seven allegations levelled against her. 

"The result of the division indicates that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges. The Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office," Senate Speaker Amason Kingi declared after the Senators completed casting their votes.

A special 11-member committee led by Kakamega Senator Bony Khalwale, which was formed to investigate allegations levelled against her, concluded that all the 62 accusations were unsubstantiated. 

Her case was then forwarded to the plenary after Senators declined to form a committee to vote on her ouster. 

Senate Votes on Kawira Mwangaza Impeachment
A photo collage of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Senate House
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Kawira Mwangaza/Senate
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