MP initiates bid to impeach Kaimenyi

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi faces impeachment after an MP gave notice of a Motion to have President Uhuru Kenyatta dismiss him from office.

Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga (ODM) said yesterday that he had so far collected signatures from 96 MPs to oust Prof Kaimenyi (right) for alleged gross misconduct and violation of the Constitution.

“I have already submitted the petition to the office of the Speaker and am waiting for his approval before we remove this CS,” said Mr Odanga.

He said he had surpassed the threshold of 88 MPs who are required to sign such a petition. He claimed that more MPs were in support of his move, including members of the ruling Jubilee coalition.

“We want to remove him because he is not ready to work with other stakeholders. He is running down the ministry,” added Mr Odanga.

He said that the education sector needed a Cabinet secretary, who would be ready to work with all the stakeholders and not one who looks down upon some of them.

“Prof Kaimenyi is not fit to run the Ministry of Education at all. He is coming up with policies without seeking the advice of the Attorney-General, Prof Githu Muigai, and the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, which is wrong,” said Mr Odanga, citing as an example the Basic Education Regulations 2015 issued by the CS.

The House requires at least 88 out of the 349 MPs to proceed with debate of the Motion.

However, Prof Kaimenyi has in the past repeatedly denied allegations of high-handedness in managing the ministry’s affairs.

“We do a lot of consultations with the stakeholders on all issues affecting the sector. The majority should be allowed to have their way and minority, their say,” he said.