Three MCAs deny voting in Governor Nyaribo impeachment, file criminal complaint
Angered by their alleged inclusion in the removal of the embattled county chief, the MCAs say they will seek legal redress against the motion’s sponsors and the county assembly.
The legality of the process through which Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo was impeached could form the basis of a bruising battle in the Senate over whether his removal from office was valid.
Nyaribo’s ouster has taken a new twist after three Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) filed reports vehemently denying participation in the voting exercise.
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The ward representatives, Julius Nyangana, Elijah Abere, and Priscilla Nyatichi, have lodged a criminal complaint at Nyali Police Station in Mombasa under OB 46/25/11/25, disputing claims that they delegated voting rights to impeach the governor.
Angered by their alleged inclusion in the removal of the embattled county chief, the MCAs say they will seek legal redress against the motion’s sponsors and the county assembly.
They accused Nyamira County Assembly Speaker Thaddeus Nyabaro of falsely claiming they had delegated their voting rights and assented to the impeachment.
“I did not send anyone to vote on my behalf during the governor’s impeachment. I reported in Mombasa and instructed my advocate to take action,” said Nyatichi. “Regardless of the circumstances, I will go to court for defamation and to restore my dignity. I was in Mombasa with my children when I was purported to have voted.”
The MCA is now demanding evidence from mobile service providers to establish whether any telecommunication records exist showing the delegation of voting rights. He insisted he did not authorise anyone to represent him during the exercise.
The impeachment decision has divided county leadership, with some leaders attributing the process to politics and blaming it for stalled development in the agriculture-oriented devolved unit.
“This is not timely at all. It is a waste of time that should not be happening,” an MCA told The Eastleigh Voice anonymously.
On Tuesday last week, when Nyaribo was impeached, the Speaker stated that four absent MCAs had requested to be represented by proxies. Nineteen MCAs were physically present in the chamber.
“A total of 23 MCAs voted to remove Governor Amos Nyaribo from office by way of impeachment. The two-thirds threshold has been met,” Speaker Nyabaro declared.
The 23 MCAs voted to oust Nyaribo over allegations of gross constitutional violations and abuse of office.
This was the third impeachment attempt against the governor, with the previous two failing on the assembly floor. The latest process, however, raises serious questions about integrity and validity, given the denials by the three MCAs.
Nyamira County has 35 assembly seats: 20 elected ward representatives and the remainder nominated members.
At the time of the vote, three wards, Nyamaiya, Ekerenyo, and Nyansiongo, were vacant, further complicating the numbers amid protests from MCAs who were allegedly misrepresented.
Nyaribo’s tenure has been marked by controversy and persistent wrangles with MCAs and other elected leaders, including his deputy, Dr James Gesami and Senator Okong’o Omogeni.
He succeeded the late John Nyagarama, but even as deputy, he was once declared persona non grata at county offices.
The governor also previously faced physical ejection, had his vehicles deflated, and was barred from premises where he was constitutionally entitled to work.
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