Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua impeached

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua has been impeached.

The motion to impeach him easily sailed through with 32 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voting in favour of the motion against 12 who were absent during the voting time after they walked out of the chambers.

The motion mover, Kiganjo Mathari Ward MCA, Baragu Mutahi, accused Gachagua of abuse of office and gross misconduct, declining to sign a Ksh 6.4 billion budget and embezzlement of funds among others.

The assembly proceedings were interrupted briefly when pro-Gachagua MCA and Chinga Ward Representative was kicked out of the chambers for inappropriate dressing.

Mutahi also argued that the assembly has been delivering Bills but the Governor has not assented or looked at seven Bills delivered to his office.

Deputy Speaker and Karatina Ward MCA, Joel Gichuru, seconded the motion where he insisted Gachagua should be sent packing next week, claiming that the Governor has been going round the county demeaning MCAs who are against him.

In addition,  Gichuru also insisted that the Governor declined to assent the budget due to selfish interest after his travel and other allowances were slashed.

Supporting the motion, Wamagana Ward MCA, Jesse Mwangi Kamuri, explained that they are impeaching the Governor due to his move of declining to assent the budget with only 11 months remaining  to the General Election and misappropriation of public funds.

He also questioned the Governor’s integrity claiming that Gachagua  has been running the county with an iron rod.

Majority Leader and Kabaru Ward MCA, Duncan Gituanja, said most of the members have been threatened by the county government for safeguarding the interest of the people of Nyeri.

Gituanja said that according to the law, anybody who flouts the Public Procurement Act should be in jail and Gachagua is not an exceptional.

Under the County Government Act, the county assembly is required to communicate the results of the motion to the Speaker of the Senate Ekwe Ethuro.

The Senate will now look into the motion and make a decision on whether he should be impeached or not.