This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 23, 2020, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi dealt a blow to Nyali MP Mohamed Ali's efforts to impeach Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.
Muturi cited lack of evidence as the reason for rejecting the impeachment motion, which was signed by 90 MPs.
The MPs had accused Macharia of overseeing stalled government projects worth Ksh. 100 billion and being part of the Afya House scandal that saw taxpayers lose Ksh. 5.2 billion in 2016.
According to the petition, Macharia had failed to set up crucial infrastructure such as highways, bridges, ports, and airports despite their importance for the country's economic growth.
The Transport CS was also blamed for failing to explain the loss of Ksh. 1.5 billion meant for construction of housing projects in Nairobi by Suraya Property Group.
Ali had linked the loss to Macharia, alleging that he had sidelined transport stakeholders in the implementation of the directive to have all cargo from the Port of Mombasa transported through the Standard Gauge Railway.
This move had caused public suffering in the transport sector, leading to many businesses closing down and the loss of over 100,000 jobs, the petition claimed.
