Kisii deputy governor Robert Monda’s fate lies with the Senate which started sessions to deliberate on the grounds of impeachment by the MCAs. Kisii deputy governor Robert Monda walking to the Senate for his impeachment hearing. Fifty-three members of the County Assembly voted to send Monda out of office over, among other things, alleged abuse of office and gross misconduct. The impeachment motion was fronted by Ichuni MCA Wycliffe Siocha. In one of the accusations, Monda is said to have used his position and influence to control the hiring at the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company (GWASCO). He was accused of receiving a KSh 800,000 bribe to favour a job candidate. Testifying before the Senate, the man identified as Dennis Misati who allegedly paid the cash revealed it was his lifetime savings. Despite paying the cash, he never got the job. “I did not secure any employment at GWASCO. We made constant follow-ups through my dad but we did not receive any convincing communication…That was my lifetime savings,” he said, breaking down in tears. The events prompted Speaker Amason Kingi to ask for the plenary to take a break after Misati who was testifying against Monda could not control himself. Monda becomes the second deputy governor to face impeachment. In June last year, the Senate saved William Oduol of Siaya from an ouster. Siaya deputy governor saved Kenya Kwanza lawmakers used their considered super-majority numbers to dismiss all the two charges against the deputy governor. On the first charge of gross violations of the 2010 Constitution and other laws concerning interference with the procurement process through acts of bid-rigging, 27 senators voted against the impeachment. Only 16 senators allied to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party voted to support Oduol’s ouster. Also, on the second charge of misleading the public by giving false information, 27 senators voted to save the embattled Governor James Orengo’s deputy. “The net effect of this vote is done pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution. It is important to state that the Senate has failed to impeach the Siaya deputy governor William Oduol, and he will continue to hold office,” ruled Speaker Kingi. Among other things, Oduol had been accused of spending KSh 18 million of taxpayers’ money to renovate his office for personal comfort.
by Kai Eli