Homa Bay County Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo has been impeached following a motion tabled by Kibiri Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Michael Odira.
In the motion, Odira cited gross violation of the Constitution alleging incompetence and gross misconduct.
After a discussion on the floor of the House, all the 49 MCAs who were present during the debate voted to impeach the Speaker.
“The conduct of Elizabeth Ayoo through her acts and omissions, has caused the Assembly great embarrassment and brought the Office of the Speaker into disrepute contrary to the laws on the conduct of a state officer,” Odira said in his motion.
Odira noted that the Speaker violated Section 10 of the Leadership and Integrity Act which requires state officers to the best of their ability to carry out their duties efficiently and honestly, and Section13(1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act 2012 moral and ethical requirements of a public officer which stipulates that a public officer should not engage in activities and conduct that are seen to personally benefit them.
“Through this action, the Speaker violated Sections 10,11 and 13 of the Leadership and Integrity Act,2012 by failing to carry out her duties with impartiality and objectivity in accordance with Articles 10, 27, 73(2)(b) and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010,” Odira said.
Last week, Ayoo was accused of providing the Government Printers authorisation to publish the names of persons purportedly nominated to serve on the County Assembly Service Board (CASB) beginning March 17, 2022.
Ayoo is charged with incompetence for allegedly delaying the signature of the vellum on the Homa Bay County Supplementary Appropriations Act 2022, effectively crippling the County government’s activities.
On gross misconduct, Odira in his motion accused the Speaker of exhibiting gross misconduct by usurping the powers of the CASB and that of the County Assembly through her letter dated February 22, 2022, to the clerk purporting to nullify certain decisions of the County Assembly and the CASB.
“This was a violation of Section ll of the Leadership and Integrity Act,2012 on professionalism by failing to carry out duties of her office in a manner that maintains public confidence in the integrity of the office,” Odira said.
The impeachment is the second in a span of three years after a similar one in November 2018.
Ayoo returned to the office following a court injunction after the first ouster.
