The political fate of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo now lies with the Senate, which convenes today for a special sitting to deliberate on his removal from office.

This high-stakes hearing places the constitutional oversight role of the Senate under a national spotlight. The verdict could redefine the leadership of Nyamira County, following grave accusations leveled by the County Assembly in what is the third attempt to oust the governor.

The Charges on the Table

Governor Nyaribo faces two main charges: gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, and abuse of office. The motion, championed by Bonyamatuta MCA Julius Kimwomi Matwere, alleges a pattern of misconduct that undermined the county's governance structures.

Key allegations brought forward by the Nyamira County Assembly include:

• Conducting county business through unauthorized “Bunge Mashinani” (people's assembly) sittings, which were later declared illegal by the courts.
• Unlawful staff recruitment without budgetary provision and influencing irregular appointments of senior officials.
• Alleged involvement in a payroll fraud syndicate that led to the loss of public funds.
• Irregularly assenting to the Nyamira County Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024.

The proceedings have been further complicated by claims of forgery, with three MCAs filing a police complaint alleging their signatures were forged to meet the voting threshold for impeachment. Nyaribo's legal team has indicated they will raise this as a preliminary objection.

A Race Against Time

The Senate has cleared its schedule for plenary hearings on Wednesday and Thursday after a motion to form a smaller 11-member investigative committee collapsed. This means the entire house will sit as a trial court to hear evidence from both the County Assembly and the Governor's defense team.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot emphasized the gravity of the matter, urging his colleagues to dedicate their full attention to the proceedings. "It’s not a light matter when a county disagrees to the level of saying send this governor away," Cheruiyot noted. For the impeachment to be upheld, a majority of county delegations in the Senate must vote in favour of the charges.

As senators take their seats, the residents of Nyamira wait for a verdict that will undoubtedly shape their county's future for years to come.