Governors have become easy targets of impeachment - Otuoma

By Peter Ochieng

Busia governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma has decried what he terms as county bosses 'becoming easy targets of impeachment.'

The first term governor wondered why it is easier to remove a governor from office, as compared to a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) or even a Member of Parliament (MP), yet all were directly elected by the people.

The former MP said governors are living in fear of being impeached, hence undermining governance in devolved units.

He proposed that instead of impeaching a governor, a county should be disbanded so that the county chief and MCAs face the electorate, one more time.

"It doesn't make sense that some peoples' mandate is above others yet they were equally elected by the same voters. The best way out of this situation is have a law that disbands the local government and force everybody to go back to the people to seek fresh mandate," said Otuoma.

He revealed that the Council of Governors (COG) leadership is consulting with MPs over the issue, with the view to politically stabilise the county governments.

His sentiments come days after Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza, survived a second impeachment motion at the hands of the Senate.

Otuoma spoke on Thursday, during the inaugural Prayer Breakfast Meeting held at the Agricultural Training Center (ATC) in Busia Town.

The meeting was organised by the county's religious leaders under the stewardship of Bishop John Okude, of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Katakwa Diocese.

The governor urged the church to continue praying for the country so that democracy is strengthened.

On his part, Deputy Governor Arthur Odera called on the leaders to work hard and serve the people without excuses.

The DG urged the church to pray for everlasting unity between county government and the County Assemby leaders.