Senate plenary session/FILEAll eyes were on the Senate on Thursday after Speaker Amason Kingi convened a crucial sitting to determine how the House would handle charges brought against Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo.
A motion sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader sought to form a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office.
However, the bid faltered dramatically when Migori Senator Eddy Oketch—expected to second the motion—failed to do so. The lapse resulted in the Motion’s automatic withdrawal under Senate Standing Orders.
With the special committee pathway collapsing, Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi guided the House to proceed with the impeachment through a plenary process, as prescribed under the County Governments Act.
This means the entire Senate will hear evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and deliberate on the accusations against the governor.
The Clerk of the Senate was directed to circulate all relevant documents—including the Plenary Hearing Programme—to senators by Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 at 5pm.
Formal impeachment proceedings are scheduled for December 3–4, 2025.
Nyaribo faces charges including abuse of office, raised in a motion tabled by Bonyamatuta MCA Kimwomi Matwere.
Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC), chaired by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, pressed government officials for answers over the low absorption of funds in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
Appearing before the Committee, Deputy Controller of Budget FCPA Stephen Masha attributed the slow spending to challenges posed by the transition to the new electronic Government Procurement System (e-GPS).
He cited “a learning curve, resistance from some users, integration issues with internal systems, and vendor-related problems” as key bottlenecks hampering timely procurement.
MPs questioned the logic behind approving Article 223 expenditure requests, exemptions allowing some agencies to bypass e-GPS, and the alarming rise of pending bills in county governments despite full disbursements from the National Treasury.
They also sought clarification on whether development funds were being inappropriately released into recurrent expenditure votes and on coordination between the Treasury, Central Bank, and COB.
In a separate meeting, women legislators under the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) intensified their advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty for women, in what they describe as a step toward gender-responsive justice.
The call comes ahead of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. During a breakfast round-table held on 25th November 2025 with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)—Kenya Chapter, the MPs pushed for Kenya to adopt the African Union’s draft Protocol on abolishing the death penalty.
Speaking on behalf of KEWOPA Chairperson, Senator Beth Syengo reaffirmed their commitment to legal and policy reforms.
“We stand ready to work with ICJ Kenya, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, development partners, and fellow parliamentarians to ensure that no woman is further victimized by a system meant to protect her,” she said.
Syengo highlighted the structural inequalities that shape women’s experiences in the criminal justice system, noting that many face unique vulnerabilities that often compromise their access to fair trials and legal recourse.
