Kericho governor survives impeachment

Kericho governor Paul Chepkwony has survived impeachment after the Senate cleared him of all the charges made against him by Members of the County Assembly.

A Senate committee on Tuesday absolved him of all the three charges, allowing him to continue serving as governor of Kericho County.

The 11-member committee appointed by the House to look into the accusations dismissed them saying they had not been substantiated as required by the law governing impeachment of governors.

“On the first charge of gross violation of the Public Private Partnerships Act, 2013, the special committee found that this charge was not substantiated,” said the report.

The committee chaired by Kisii Senator Chris Obure also said the other charges—gross violation of the Public Finance Management Act, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act and another charge on County Governments Act—had not been proved as required by the law.

Although the Standing Orders do not allow further action when charges are dropped, the House went around the rules and members got an opportunity to make contributions on the report.

In absolving the embattled governor, the senators also called upon their Kericho counterpart Charles Keter to lead in the push for reconciliation in the county.

“The Senator further urges the Senator of Kericho county, in exercise of his mandate under article 96 (1) of the Constitution, to take a lead role to bring together the County Executive and the County Assembly of Kericho county,” said the committee in its 100-page report.