Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode has refuted claims that MCAs in the county have lined up an impeachment motion against Governor James Orengo.
In a press briefing, the Speaker stated that that there was no pending impeachment against the governor at the moment.
The speaker noted that MCAs in the county have a good working relationship with the governor and that they have held meetings to raise various grievances.
“I put to you that there is no such motion against the governor. We have a good working relationship with the governor,” he stated.
However, the Speaker did not rule chances of an impeachment motion in the future, assuring that the County Assembly would follow due process in such a case.
Okode insisted that the MCAs had no grounds to anchor an impeachment motion against Orengo, a first-time governor and a former Senator.
His statement came against the backdrop of rumors stating that MCAs in the county were plotting a move to impeach Governor Orengo.
As per multiple reports, a section of MCAs had threatened to take action against Orengo citing differences over the allocation of funds through the Ward Development Fund (WDF).
Notably, this is not the first time that the leadership of Siaya County has been at loggerheads.
Also Read: EXPLAINER: What Next After Governor Kawira Mwangaza Impeachment
Orengo vs His Deputy
In June, MCAs impeached the county’s Deputy Governor William Oduol on grounds of gross violation of constitution and other laws, misuse of public resources and gross misconduct.
His impeachment was a culmination of a frosty relationship between him and Governor Orengo which saw them point accusing fingers against each other.
However, a Senate special committee formed to adjudicate the impeachment handed Oduol a lifeline after the members failed to approve the impeachment.
Siaya County joins several other counties where leadership wrangles have threatened to hinder good working relationships in county leaderships.
On Wednesday, October 25, Meru MCAs impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza for the second time.
Her fate as the County’s Chief now hangs in the balance as the county awaits the Senate’s decision to either approve or reject Mwangaza’s impeachment.
Also Read: Governor Kawira Mwangaza Impeached for Second Time
Elsewhere in Kiambu County, Governor Kimani Wamatangi has been engulfed in supremacy battles pitting him against MCAs and other elected leaders in the county.
The frequent wrangles have since raised eyebrows, with complaints of MCAs blackmailing governors with impeachment threats becoming common.
On several occasions, governors facing impeachment threats have accused MCAs and politicians of using the avenue to settle political scores.
Consequently, Kenyans from different quarters have floated proposals to amend the constitution and raise the bar higher for the impeachment of governors.