Political Turmoil and Corruption Allegations Engulf Governor

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo is facing a severe political crisis, confronting his third impeachment motion in a special sitting of the County Assembly today, Monday, November 17, 2025. This latest challenge to his leadership unfolds as he remains under active investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of significant corruption and abuse of office, creating a precarious situation for the county's top executive.

The impeachment motion was filed by Bonyamatuta Ward MCA, Julius Kimwomi Matwere, accusing the governor of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, as well as abuse of office. The Nyamira County Assembly's House Business Committee scheduled the special session to commence at 10:00 AM EAT, signaling a determined effort by a faction of ward representatives to oust the governor.

A History of Narrow Escapes

This is not the first time Governor Nyaribo has faced the threat of removal. He has narrowly survived two previous impeachment attempts, highlighting the persistent and deep-seated political divisions within Nyamira's leadership. An initial attempt in October 2023 failed after 18 MCAs voted against the motion, compared to 16 who supported it. A second, more perilous attempt in September 2024 saw 22 MCAs vote for his removal, falling just one vote short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority of 23. Another motion in October 2025 also reportedly failed by a single vote.

The recurring grounds for these motions have included accusations of mismanagement, nepotism in staff recruitment, failure to remit statutory dues, and illegal appointments. The persistent friction between the executive and the legislature has previously led to leadership crises, including the impeachment of the Assembly Speaker, and has been cited as a source of prolonged institutional tension.

EACC Investigation Adds Pressure

Compounding the political pressure, the EACC launched a significant corruption investigation into Governor Nyaribo's administration. On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, EACC detectives conducted coordinated dawn raids on the governor's homes and offices in Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi. The raids were part of a probe into the alleged irregular award of a KSh382 million contract for the construction of Nyamira County Government offices.

The EACC is investigating claims that the contractor, Spentech Engineering Limited, received payments that far exceeded the work completed, leading to a potential loss of public funds. Furthermore, the anti-graft agency is probing allegations that Governor Nyaribo irregularly authorized payments to himself totaling KSh18 million, which included KSh5 million as an ex-gratia payment and KSh13 million as a house allowance reimbursement. The EACC confirmed the searches were aimed at recovering documents and digital evidence. Other senior county officials in departments such as Finance, Roads, and Housing are also persons of interest in the ongoing investigation.

Implications for Nyamira County

The confluence of the impeachment proceedings and the high-profile corruption probe places Nyamira County's governance in a state of uncertainty. A successful impeachment would trigger a significant leadership transition and could disrupt county operations and development projects. The outcome of today's vote is being closely watched, with 21 votes out of the 31 MCAs present required to pass the motion.

Governor Nyaribo's allies have claimed the impeachment attempts and the EACC probe are politically motivated, intended to derail his political activities. However, his critics, including some MCAs and youth groups, maintain that the issues at hand are legitimate concerns about governance, accountability, and the management of public resources. As the assembly debates his fate, the residents of Nyamira await a resolution to the leadership struggles that have repeatedly destabilized their county government.