Parliament this week was dominated by dramatic developments in the Senate, where lawmakers voted decisively to uphold a preliminary objection raised by Nyamira Governor Amos Kimwomi Nyaribo.
The decision effectively halting the impeachment proceedings against him.
The outcome, delivered through a vote of 38 Senators in favour and only four against, meant the case would not proceed to a full hearing.
The decision followed a heated Wednesday morning sitting in which Nyaribo’s legal team raised two preliminary objections during the hearing on his proposed removal from office.
They argued that the impeachment Motion dated November 11, 2025 failed to meet constitutional and statutory thresholds, rendering the process fundamentally defective.
The lawyers argued the County Assembly’s resolution was invalid and incompetent, having ignored the mandatory provisions of Article 181 of the Constitution and Section 33 of the County Governments Act.
In their second objection, the Governor’s team, led by advocate Elias Mutuma, challenged the legality of proxy voting, calling it alien to Kenyan law, illegal and null and void.
They argued that efforts to explain discrepancies in the recorded vote tally through proxy voting were not only untenable but also served to reinforce what they described as proceedings rooted in fraud, forgery and misrepresentation.
The team further maintained that only 19 Members of the County Assembly were physically present during the vote, yet the Assembly recorded 23 votes in favour of the impeachment Motion, a result they labelled numerically impossible, improper and fraudulent.
Their arguments ultimately convinced the Senate, which voted to halt the process entirely.
Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, the atmosphere was more celebratory as six newly elected MPs took their Oath of Office in accordance with Article 74 of the Constitution and Standing Order 3(2), which require that all Members be sworn in before assuming parliamentary duties.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula presided over the ceremony and congratulated the legislators for earning the trust of their constituents and joining the House as representatives of the people.
The newly sworn-in MPs are Harrison Garama Kombe (Magarini), Ahmed Maalim Hassan (Banissa), Boyd Were Ongondo (Kasipul), David Athman Ndakwa (Malava), Leo Wa Muthende Njeru (Mbeere North) and Moses Okoth Omondi (Ugunja).
"On behalf of the House and on my own behalf, I extend warm congratulations to the six Members-elect for earning the confidence of their respective electorates and for the privilege of joining this August House as representatives of the people," Wetangu’ula said.
The Senate also welcomed Vincent Chemitei, who took his seat as a new member of the Upper House.
Legislative business also featured prominently during the week, with the National Assembly approving Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2023 on the National Policy on Labour Migration.
The policy aims to promote inclusive and sustainable national development through safe, orderly and productive labour migration.
In its report, the Committee on Labour highlighted the economic value of labour migration, noting its contribution to job creation, technology transfer and increased foreign exchange earnings through diaspora remittances.
The Committee underscored the importance of Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) as essential tools for governing migration while safeguarding the rights of Kenyan workers abroad.
It further observed that international frameworks and protocols regulating labour migration play a key role in combating human trafficking, ensuring fair recruitment, protecting workers’ rights and improving access to decent working conditions and social services.
MPs contributing to debate emphasised the need for the government to prioritise negotiations with key labour destination countries that have ratified and domesticated international conventions on labour migration.
They argued that strengthened BLAs would enhance the protection of Kenyan migrant workers while ensuring the country maximises opportunities presented by global labour markets.
