2025 Marked by Political Drama as Governors, MCAs Clash Over Power

Over the past year, several county governors in Kenya have narrowly avoided removal from office, as multiple impeachment attempts, often driven by political rivalries, continue to shake the local governance landscape. 

Governors Erick Mutai of Kericho, Abdi Guyo of Isiolo, and Amos Nyaribo of Nyamira have been particularly caught in this cycle, with their ouster motions repeatedly dismissed on technical grounds. The rising number of impeachment proceedings has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the process, which critics argue is increasingly used as a political weapon rather than a tool for genuine governance oversight.

In November 2024, Governor Nyaribo faced his third impeachment attempt in two years, reinforcing his reputation as a resilient leader. Although previous motions against him were unsuccessful, they underscored the legal and procedural ambiguities surrounding the impeachment process. 

This trend was echoed by other governors, including Mutai and Guyo, whose own ouster motions were thrown out at the Senate due to improper procedure. These instances highlight the growing concerns that county assemblies, while constitutionally empowered to initiate impeachments, are frequently using the process for political purposes, bypassing legal requirements in the process.

A high-profile case involved Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who faced an impeachment motion in September 2025. Despite 87 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) signing the motion against him, alleging poor governance and inaccessibility, Sakaja was able to stave off the threat with the help of key political figures. His case demonstrated the influence of political manoeuvring in the impeachment process, as key figures worked behind the scenes to dissuade MCAs from pursuing the motion. 

Sakaja’s survival was seen as a major victory in a year marked by growing political volatility at the county level. Despite the frequent failure of impeachment motions, questions have arisen about the integrity of the process. Many of the charges levied against governors, such as corruption and abuse of office, have not met the constitutional thresholds for impeachment. 

Senate hearings have repeatedly dismissed motions on procedural grounds, underscoring the importance of following proper legal steps. In several cases, governors have successfully challenged their impeachments in court, with rulings in their favour often citing procedural violations.

The Council of Governors, led by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, has criticised the increasing use of impeachment motions as a political tool, calling for clearer guidelines to prevent their abuse. Abdullahi has argued that the current legal framework is insufficient to prevent political manipulation, and has urged for a more structured approach to impeachment procedures.

In response to these concerns, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has called for discussions with county assembly speakers to address the need for reforms in the impeachment process. He has stressed that the Senate will only uphold impeachment motions that adhere to both legal and procedural standards. 

Similarly, Senator Boni Khalwale of Kakamega has suggested that MCAs should be provided with clearer guidance on the procedural aspects of initiating impeachment motions, to avoid repeated failures. There are, however, differing views on the matter. 

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has argued that the focus should be on the substance of the impeachment motions, rather than technicalities. He believes that MCAs have a constitutional duty to hold governors accountable, and the Senate should not undermine this responsibility by prioritising procedural issues.