Senate to hear Nyamira Governor Nyaribo impeachment case in plenary after committee bid fails

Embattled Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo. (Photo: File)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, November 27, 2025

Governor Nyaribo faces allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, mismanagement of public funds and irregular appointments.

The impeachment case against Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo will be heard in the Senate plenary on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4, following Senators’ decision to abandon plans for a special investigative committee.

The move comes after the proposal to form an 11-member panel failed to gain support.

More To Read

The Senate initially considered a motion by the House Business Committee to set up the committee to examine the charges against Nyaribo. However, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch declined to second the motion, citing instructions from the minority side.

“Mr Speaker, Nyamira County has faced a lot of problems. The minority side feels that because Nyamira has a lot of problems, I got instructions from the minority side not to second this motion. And you know what the implication is if I don’t second this motion,” Oketch said.

Following the failure to secure a seconder, Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi announced the motion had been withdrawn.

“The effect of the outcome on the motion for the establishment of a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Amos Nyaribo, Governor of Nyamira County, is that the motion has been withdrawn. The Senate shall now investigate the matter in plenary on Wednesday, December 3, and Thursday, December 4,” Murungi said.

The plenary hearings will follow constitutional provisions and Section 33(3)(a) of the County Governments Act. The Senate Clerk has been instructed to issue directions to parties involved, set submission deadlines and circulate a schedule for the hearings to all Senators by Tuesday, December 2.

Governor Nyaribo faces allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, mismanagement of public funds and irregular appointments.

Specific claims include conducting county business through unauthorised Bunge Mashinani sessions, approving county funds to endorse Peris Nyaboke-Oroko as County Agriculture Minister during a period of unstable leadership, unlawfully appointing committee members for Keroka town and setting up a Public Service Board recruitment panel outside official channels between October 2024 and June 2025.

The Nyamira County Assembly voted to impeach Nyaribo on November 25, 2025, with 23 out of 28 present MCAs supporting his removal. Speaker Thadeus Nyabaro allowed six members to vote on behalf of absent colleagues to meet the constitutional threshold.

The motion, tabled by Bonyamatuta Ward MCA Julius Kimwomi Matwere, marks the third attempt to oust Nyaribo since he assumed office in late 2020 following the death of his predecessor, John Nyagarama. Previous attempts in September 2023 and September 2024 failed due to procedural challenges and insufficient votes.

Once the Senate concludes its investigation, it will either uphold the impeachment, immediately removing Nyaribo from office, or reject it, allowing him to continue as governor. If removed, the deputy governor will take over for the remainder of the term.

Nyaribo has indicated his legal team may challenge the process, citing precedents in similar cases against governors in Isiolo and Kericho that were dismissed on technical grounds.

Meanwhile, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) continues probing Nyaribo over allegations of graft and irregular tenders worth Sh382 million. Last month, EACC officers raided his residences and offices, targeting senior county officials suspected of involvement in the scheme.