This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
The Impeachment Power in Kenya: A Tool for Genuine Oversight or Attention Seeking? ¶
On June 25, 2020, Kenya Insights published an article highlighting the misuse of the impeachment power by Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in Kenya.
The article noted that the 2010 Constitution of Kenya devolved power and responsibilities from the national government to 47 elected county governments, with the county governments exercising sovereign power at the county level.
However, the article argued that the MCAs have turned the impeachment power into an 'oasis' where they can seek attention and bribes from Governors, rather than using it for genuine oversight.
According to the article, the MCAs have been bribed by Governors and have settled the dust in some cases, while in other cases, they have been bribed by the Governors and have pushed the impeachment button for attention seeking.
The article cited the example of the Rai sugar investigation report, which vanished in thin air after MPs were bribed to bury the case, with some receiving as little as Sh10,000 (100$) in the toilets to shoot down the report.
The article concluded that the impeachment power in Kenya has been misused by MCAs to seek attention and bribes from Governors, undermining the country's devolution process.
