Governor Simba Arati’s deputy Monda impeached
Kisii Deputy Governor Robert Monda has been impeached over allegations of corruption and violation of the constitution.
53 members of the Kisii County Assembly on Thursday, February 29 supported an impeachment motion tabled in the House by Ichuni MCA Wycliffe Siocha against 17 who opposed it.
Monda, a medical doctor, was elected on a joint ODM party ticket with Governor Simba Arati in the 2022 General Election, but the two have since fallen out.
He is accused of having received a bribe of Ksh799,000 from Dennis Mokaya who wanted to secure a job at the Gusii Water and Sewerage Company (GWASCO).
However, the DG recently denied the claims, terming them a political witchhunt.
“I have never had a tag of corruption in my life. It is only this time that it is coming in my history. I have sufficient answers and it is the responsibility of the holders of this motion to ensure they have a case to prosecute,” the DG said.
51 out of 69 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) signed the impeachment motion which was tabled in the Kisii County Assembly last Tuesday.
Last year, Monda attributed his collision with Arati, to a lack of a clear development agenda for the county.
"My sin was that I interrogated if there is any clear agenda for our people away from rhetoric which we had been feeding them since we came into office," Monda told a local daily.
Monda's fate now lies in the hands of senators who are expected to vote to uphold or overturn the MCA's decision.
Monda is the second deputy governor to be impeached since the August 2022 polls.
Last year, Siaya County Assembly impeached Deputy Governor William Oduol over abuse of office and gross violation of the constitution.
However, the DG survived the impeachment motion before a special sitting in the Senate on June 26, 2023, with senators voting to keep him in office.
27 voted against the impeachment motion while 16 voted for the motion, consequently trashing the two charges which had been fronted by MCAs.
"The Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment William Oduol, the Deputy Governor of Siaya County and that the Deputy Governor accordingly continues to hold office," Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced.
Accusations against Oduol
The MCAs had accused the deputy governor of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws in respect of interference with the procurement process through acts of bid-rigging and abuse of office and gross misconduct in respect of misleading the public.
Both charges, which had been upheld by the Senate Special Committee on the deputy governor's impeachment, were not enough to oust the deputy governor, according to senators.
