Kericho Governor ready to work with MCAs after ouster bid

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony is ready to work with the Members of County Assembly who unsuccessfully tried to oust him.

The Governor has extended an olive branch to the 32 MCAs who steered his impeachment, saying he was ready to reconcile with all residents and their representatives.

Speaking after he was cleared of charges brought against him by the county representatives, an elated Prof Chepkwony said he was not going to avenge but would try to bring all people work towards a common goal. He said the MCAs were performing their duty as laid out in the law.

“I am very happy to have been cleared by the Senate. I wish to thank them for giving me an opportunity to give my side. I would like to tell the people of Kericho that I am ready to work with all of them,” Prof Chepkwony said Tuesday.

The embattled county boss was Wednesday given a lifeline by a Senate committee appointed to find out the substance of the charges forwarded by the county assembly.

(Read: Chepkwony survives ouster bid as Senate clears him of charges)

All the three accusations against him were dismissed after they were found to have not been substantiated.
However, posting on his Facebook wall, the Governor said his win was for all people in Kericho.

“Senate has now spoken and delivered the verdict. The task ahead is for all of us to build a strong and prosperous county. I am committed to working will all MCAs and other leaders without discrimination. The positive verdict is a win for the Constitution and the people of Kericho. May God bless you all,” posted the governor.

Despite being let off the hook, the Governor will now have to rejig his administration and how he executes his mandate after the Senators found that he had overlooked various laws while entering into agreements. He was also found to have acted "naively and recklessly", forcing the committee to reprimand him.

“The view of the committee is that if, going forward, the Governor seeks professional advice and abides by it, the County of Kericho shall be richer for it. The pragmatic thing to do is therefore to allow the governor to continue holding office but issue a severe reprimand. This we do in no uncertain terms. The situation in Kericho must change,” said the committee in its 100-page report tabled in the House Wednesday.

The 11-member committee chaired by Kisii Senator Chris Obure found the Governor to have went against the Public Private Partnership, the Public Procurement and Disposal, the Public Finance Management, County Government Acts and the Constitution but the degree of violation was not gross as required for impeachment.