Counties
Senators impeach Kisii deputy governor Robert Monda
Friday March 15 2024
Kisii Deputy Governor Robert Monda has been impeached by the Senate after senators voted to uphold all 4 expenses introduced in opposition to him by the Kisii County Meeting.
The previous Nyaribari Chache MP is the primary deputy governor to be faraway from workplace via impeachment because the counties have been established in 2013.
A complete of 11 governors and three deputies have been impeached by Members of County Assemblies since 2013, however solely two – former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko and Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) – have been efficiently faraway from workplace, with the others being rescued by the senate and the courts. Mr Monda is the fourth deputy governor to be impeached by a county meeting.
On the coronary heart of the allegations that despatched him house was a Sh800,000 bribe from Dennis Mokaya with the promise of securing him a business supervisor place on the Gusii Water and Sanitation Firm, in addition to the arrest and detention of his personal brother, Reuben Monda, for reducing down some bushes on their household land.
With most senators poking holes in his defence whereas castigating his health to carry public workplace, it was solely a matter of when, not if, Dr Monda would make historical past.
It didn’t take lengthy for the plain to be confirmed because the division bell rang and the clock ticked in direction of midnight.
When the voting started, the senators voted overwhelmingly to uphold all 4 expenses in opposition to the DG.
On the primary cost of gross violation of the Structure, 39 senators voted in favour, three in opposition to and a single abstention.
On the second cost of abuse of workplace, the numbers have been the identical.
On the third cost of gross misconduct, 35 senators voted in favour, seven in opposition to and one abstained.
On the fourth cost of crimes underneath nationwide legislation, 32 voted in favour, 10 in opposition to and one abstained.
The abstention got here from Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who mentioned earlier than the vote that he was not taking sides.
“The results of the votes signifies that the Senate has upheld all the costs and in accordance with Article 181 of the Structure and Article 33 of the County Authorities Act, the Senate has resolved to take away Dr Robert Monda from workplace by means of impeachment. He’s due to this fact relieved of his duties,” mentioned Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati now has 14 days to nominate a brand new DG if Dr Monda doesn’t determine to go to courtroom to problem his elimination.
Through the debate, Senate Majority Chief Boni Khalwale supported the elimination of the DG.
“The deputy governor had expended a variety of power twisting the proof of the 2 girls (Lucy Wahito and Gladys Aming’a). They confirmed integrity by doing the correct factor when nobody was watching,” mentioned the Kakamega senator.
Dr Monda is claimed to have despatched Ms Wahito, the Gusii Water and Sanitation Firm managing director, Sh100,000 via M-Pesa in an try and affect her into using Mr Mokaya, a request which was not accepted and the cash was returned.
In his defence, Dr Monda mentioned he had erroneously despatched the Sh100,000 to Ms Wahito as a substitute of Gladys Aming’a, the Kisii Chief Officer for Well being, for transport service.
Kitui Senator Enock Wambua mentioned Chapter Six of the Structure requires public officers to carry honour and dignity to the nation, a check Dr Monda failed.
“I go away it to the conscience of the nation to evaluate whether or not the deputy governor’s physique language and conduct are match for him to carry public workplace,” Mr Wambua mentioned.
“Not solely has he lied on oath and on document, however he’s on the centre of a conspiracy to deceive the Senate so as to exonerate himself. He and his co-conspirators should have a dim view of the Senate,” he added.
Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu mentioned: “I’ll stand with the poor who search scholarships however do not get them as a result of folks with connections someplace cannot allow them to.”
Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga added: “What sort of leaders will we be if we extort cash from our youth? It’s the accountability of this Home to inform them that this nation belongs to them regardless of the place they arrive from. It was very painful to see the household being torn aside”.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana mentioned: “One girl miscarried after 12 years of attempting to have a toddler. I urge this Home to vote correctly as a result of justice delayed is justice denied.
In keeping with Mr Mokaya, his spouse was in misery after he didn’t safe the job having bought the household enterprise to get the Sh800,000 bribe cash. Because of this, of the stress, she had a miscarriage.
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja mentioned the deputy governor’s largest mistake was to name a father as a witness in opposition to his son.
“I do know a son can promote his father, however a father can by no means promote his personal son. Please return the cash and reunite the household,” she mentioned.
Joseph Misati, Mr Mokaya’s father, was a key witness for Dr Monda, who disputed bribery accusations levelled in opposition to the DG, claiming the cash despatched to him via his son and Mr Misati’s spouse was to repay a longstanding mortgage he had borrowed from the previous MP.
Senator Okongo Omogeni of Nyamira added: “The one vote I’ll carry shall be in assist of the boychild. A boychild who has misplaced his baby and likewise had the misfortune of being disowned by his father. I’ll forged my vote with the various unemployed youths who can not get jobs as a result of they’re requested to pay a bribe.”
In his concluding assertion, Dr Monda mentioned he was embarrassed by the state of affairs the Senate needed to undergo within the two days.
“When the Home comes to a decision, the type of state of affairs that the Home has been put via yesterday and at this time, I’m embarrassed as an individual to come back right here to debate problems with my circle of relatives. It is a humiliation that I’m right here on a fabrication to settle political scores of the previous.”