Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo has denied all charges brought against him by the Nyamira County Assembly.

Appearing before the Senate plenary on the first day of hearings into his proposed removal from office through impeachment, Governor Nyaribo denied all accusations as read to him by the Senate Deputy Clerk, Mr Mohamed Ali.

In the first charge, Governor Nyaribo is accused of engaging in, endorsing and supporting the unlawful and unconstitutional Bunge Mashinani initiative, giving illegal assent to the Nyamira County Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024, and making an unlawful appointment of Dr Peris Nyaboke Oroko, also known as Peris Mongare, as a County Executive Committee Member.

It is further alleged that the Governor illegally appointed members of the Municipal Boards of Nyamira and Keroka, unlawfully constituted a Selection Panel for the County Public Service Board (CPSB) and failed to appoint the Chairperson, Secretary and Members of the CPSB.

The County Assembly also accuses Governor Nyaribo of failing to deliver the State of the County Address and Annual Reports and of failing to comply with court orders regarding the appointment of Mr Clive Ogwora to the County Executive Committee.

On the charge of abuse of office, the Assembly faults the Governor for conducting staff recruitment without budgetary provision, influencing irregular appointments of senior human resource officials and enriching himself through irregular salary arrears.

Members of the Assembly further cite a payroll fraud syndicate that allegedly resulted in the loss of public funds, the Governor’s involvement in dual appointments outside the lawful establishment, and the usurpation of the powers of the Auditor-General and the CPSB.

Governor Nyaribo is also accused of unlawfully suspending the Secretary of the CPSB.

The Senate is set to consider and determine a Preliminary Objection, a decision that will determine whether the proceedings continue or are halted. The Governor’s side has already raised an objection seeking to stop the process, arguing that the impeachment does not meet the required threshold.

Through his legal team, led by Advocate Elias Mutuma, the Governor has urged Senators not to allow the Motion to proceed.

“What you have is a lifeless Motion that cannot be entertained. Senators have many important matters to attend to rather than deal with this stillborn issue,” submitted Mr Mutuma.

However, the County Assembly’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, dismissed the objection and appealed to Senators to allow the Motion to proceed.

“It is our argument that you allow the Motion to proceed, as the impeachment attained the required threshold,” submitted Mr Kigen.

Speaker Kingi will issue a ruling on the Preliminary Objection during Wednesday afternoon’s sitting.