Bomet MCAs plot to impeach three CECs, County Board

Bomet County Assembly. [File, Standard]

Three members of the Bomet County Executive Committee and four County Public Service Board members are facing ouster after MCAs tabled notices of impeachment in the county assembly Wednesday afternoon.

In an unprecedented move, the MCAs prematurely ended their recess to deal with the notices of impeachment.

Kapletundo ward MCA Nathan Kibet called for the removal of Finance CEC Andrew Sigei for allegedly violating the Public Finance Management Act and Incompetence.

Kibet said Dr Sigei had failed to implement the assembly's resolution on the Budget and Appropriation Committee Bill report that called for disciplinary action against finance officers involved in a fictitious expedition.

The Kapletundo MCA argued that the Finance CEC oversaw the piling of pending bills amounting to Sh897 million comprising recurrent and development activities.

Kibet further accused Sigei of alleged incompetence for failing to ensure the county collects sufficient revenue with failed targets for several financial years.

At the same time, Merigi MCA Peter Langat tabled a notice of motion seeking the removal of Administration, Public Service, and Special Programs CECM Joseph Kirui.

Langat accused Dr Kirui of alleged incompetence, gross misconduct and abuse of office.

He argued that the CEC should be shown the door after the county failed to pay casual workers despite budgetary allocations.

Kirui is accused of allegedly not remitting dues owed to village managers engaged by the county for several months.

The Merigi MCA further claimed that the Administration CEC had failed to submit statutory deductions of employees, particularly the National Hospital  Insurance Fund(NHIF) and National Social Security Fund NSSF, exposing county employees while seeking health services.

Langat accused the CEC of alleged abuse of office by usurping the powers of the County Public Service Board by renewing employment contracts for administrators.

Sigor MCA Peter Mutai, who also chairs the Road Committee, tabled a notice of impeachment against Roads and Transport CECM Erick Kipkoech Ngetich.

Mutai said the CEC had failed to implement projects in the Budget, leading to outcry in the county.

He accused Ngetich of alleged abuse of office by unprocedurally disposing of county motor vehicles.

The MCA claimed that the CEC failed to adhere to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, while selling more than 30 vehicles owned by the county government.

Mutai further alleged that Ngetich had overseen financial impropriety at the roads docket and should be sent packing to save the County.

Siongiroi MCA Kibet Ngetich, tabled four notices of motions seeking the removal of County Public Service Board members, Chairman Eng Alexander Ngeno, Vice Chairperson Millicent Soi, David Tuei, and Isaiah Byegon.

Ngetich said the chairman and his board members carry individual responsibility for alleged serious violations of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and incompetence.

County Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir said the House Business Committee has altered its calendar to enable the assembly to dispense the impeachment of the CECs and board members.

He told members that the CEC notice of motion will be heard on Monday next week and if they adopt it the Motions Committee, will be formed to investigate the allegation and report to the assembly.

Members of the public welcomed the notice of impeachment against the CEC, saying the decision was long overdue.

Led by Bildad Cheruiyot and Paul Bett, they said MCAs should not backtrack, insisting that the entire county cabinet should be removed.

“We trust the MCAs will not change their mind about removing the three CECs and members of the board. The county has witnessed little development ranging from roads to agriculture and water because of them, and they should be removed,” he said.

Bett said while the MCAs are right to file notice of impeachment against the CECs, they should also consider going for Governor Hillary Barchok, who bears the greatest responsibility.