Fury on impeachment wave rages

By Wilberforce Netya

The impeachment of two governors has sparked outrage, with West Pokot County Governor Simon Kachapin blaming the move on witch hunt.

Kachapin criticised senators and Members of County Assemblies (MCAS), saying the leaders were hellbent on frustrating devolution out of their grudge towards the county bosses.

He noted there was a problem which needed to be solved immediately so as to prevent further wrangles between the different arms of Government, saying this would enable better service delivery.

“Personally, I am not happy with Wambora’s ouster and I am sure that even the residents of Embu too are angry about it since they are the ones suffering from the aftermath,” said Kachapin.

The county chief observed that there was need for guidance and expressed his gratitude over the initiative by Constitution Implementation Committee to move across the 47 counties to find out  challenges of devolution.

Kachapin pointed out that the public voted for the new Constitution, hoping that the Senate would protect devolution instead of turning it into a lynch mob.

“The Constitution framers did not expect the Senate to act in the manner in which they are, and we are asking senators to take their time to do good rather than turning into a lynch mob,” he added.

The county chief was speaking yesterday at Kapsangar, along the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties where he officially opened a laboratory, classrooms and toilets built at a cost of Sh7.4 million through the support of community development trust fund.

The governor further pointed out that the senators behaved in a manner that suggested they were happy with actions which brought instability in counties.

His sentiment comes barely a day after Embu Governor Martin Wambora and his Kericho counterpart Paul Chepkwony were ousted.

Kachapin said the law should be revised to make impeachment be carried out as a last resort after exhausting all other means.

He noted that governors were duly elected through a democratic process and should not be impeached at wish since this compromised service delivery to the public.