Senate resolves to hear Governor Nyaribo's impeachment case through plenary

The effort to form an 11-member special committee to investigate the proposed impeachment of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has collapsed after the Senate minority side refused to second the motion.

The motion, moved on the floor of the House on Tuesday, sought to establish the committee to probe allegations brought against the governor by the Nyamira County Assembly.

However, after it failed to secure a seconder, Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi ruled that the motion stood withdrawn under parliamentary procedure.

As a result, the Senate will now handle the impeachment proceedings in full plenary, where all senators will examine the charges, interrogate evidence, and determine the next steps.

The Deputy Speaker confirmed that the case will be heard in the House on Wednesday, December 3, and Thursday, December 4, 2025, allowing Senators to collectively decide whether the accusations meet the constitutional threshold for the removal of a county governor.

The shift from a specialised committee to plenary means the process will be more open and involve every senator rather than a select few.

The upcoming sessions are expected to feature detailed presentations and rigorous debate as the Senate assumes full responsibility for determining Governor Nyaribo’s fate.

 In a gazette notice dated November 26, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced a special sitting on Thursday afternoon to hear charges in the proposed removal of office by impeachment of Nyamira Governor Nyaribo.

“I appoint the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 2.30 pm as the sitting convened for the purpose of hearing the charges in the matter of the proposed removal from office by impeachment, of Hon. Amos Kimwomi Nyaribo, the Governor of Nyamira County,” the notice read.

Nyaribo was impeached by 23 members of the Nyamira County Assembly. Some 28 MCAs were present in the Assembly when the vote was taken while 12 kept off.                                                   

Speaker Thadeus Nyabaro allowed six of those present to vote on behalf of their absent colleagues to attain the threshold required to send it to senate.

MCAs disregarded a sworn affidavit by the 12 absentees and voted on behalf of six.

The MCAs are; Alfayo Ngeresa Mabera (Mekenene Ward), Emmanuel Gisesa (Rigoma Ward), Joel Ombongi (Bokeira Ward) and Lameck Sikweya Onyancha (Itibo Ward).

Others are; Julius Nyangana (Bobwagamo Ward), Henry Obwaya (Gachuba Ward), Jeria Nyakangi (Nominated), Priscilla Nyatichi (Nominated) and Elijah Abere (Nominated).

Nyaribo faced several charges that include abuse of office in the motion sponsored by Bonyamatuta MCA Kimwomi Matwere.

The governor who rose to power in late 2020 following the death of his predecessor John Nyagarama, has in the past survived similar attempts twice, which the accusations mirroring each other in both instances.

In October 2023, the MCAs had sought to impeach Nyaribo on several claims which he survived but left a divided Assmebly which was split twice.

For several months, a faction led by ousted speaker Enock Okero conducted their parallel session dubbed Bunge Mashinani from outside the official Assembly chambers.