By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya 3 December 2025 - Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has denied all charges levelled against him as he appeared before the Senate on Wednesday morning, marking the formal start of his impeachment trial.
The governor, who arrived at Parliament accompanied by his legal team, pleaded “not guilty” to two counts brought forward by the Nyamira County Assembly. The charges relate to alleged violations of the Constitution through his association with the Bunge Mashinani faction, as well as claims tied to recruitment processes and medical expenditure.
Reading the charges before the packed chamber, the Clerk of the Senate stated that the assembly accused the governor of “deliberate engagement, endorsement and support of unlawful and unconstitutional Bunge Mashinani sittings,” alongside other alleged breaches of the County Governments Act.
Nyaribo maintained his innocence throughout the session. His lawyer, Advocate Elias Mutuma, criticised the impeachment motion as fundamentally flawed, insisting it failed both constitutional and procedural tests. He argued that the process relied on an inflated vote count that did not match the number of MCAs physically present during the sitting.
“At the end of my presentation, honourable senators, you will have no doubt that the motion before you is built on a foundation that is constitutionally rotten, procedurally fraudulent and mathematically impossible,” Mutuma told the Senate.
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He said the records showed that only 19 MCAs were in the chamber at the time of voting, yet the tally presented indicated 23 votes in favour of impeachment. “Honourable Senators, the record will show that 19 members were present. However, strangely, 23 votes were generated. It is the joke of the year,” he added.
The governor’s defence mirrors a complaint already filed at Nyali Police Station by three MCAs — Priscilla Nyatichi, Julius Nyangana and Elijah Abere — who claim their signatures were forged to boost the impeachment numbers. Their allegations have deepened the controversy surrounding the assembly’s decision and added pressure on investigators.
Nyaribo was impeached on 25 November after the assembly accused him of supporting a breakaway assembly group, irregular appointments and misuse of county funds. The Senate will now set dates for full hearings, during which witnesses will be cross-examined and both sides allowed to present evidence.
Senators will then vote to either uphold or overturn his removal, a decision that will determine whether Nyaribo remains in office or exits through impeachment.
