The process to impeach Migori Governor Okoth Obado cleared the first hurdle Wednesday, beginning the countdown to his ouster and imminent takeover by his deputy, Mr Nelson Mahanga.
At least 27 MCAs had signed up for a motion to impeach Mr Obado by yesterday, eight more than the requisite number for it to be tabled in the assembly.
The motion must be supported by a third of the members —19 in a House of 57—and must detail sufficient grounds for the governor’s removal.
If backed by a two-thirds majority (in this case, 38) during a vote, the impeachment proceedings will be referred to the Senate, to either uphold or dismiss the charges against the governor.
Mr Mahanga, a Kuria who had been away from office for over a year in 2018 reportedly after falling out with his boss, looks set to have the final laugh. His ascension to power will also cap what had seemed like an improbable fête for a leader from a minority community.
In the assembly, the odds are stacked against Mr Obado given that Mr Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic MOvement (ODM) that sanctioned his removal has 41 MCAs — more than the number needed to send him home.
Jubilee has five members, (all from the Kuria community, which doesn’t help his cause), Ford Kenya (three), Independents (seven) and the Peoples’ Party of Kenya (PPK) has one. But several factors could also be at play.
Wednesday, it emerged that some ODM MCAs were in a dilemma whether to side with the party or with the governor.
“Some of our colleagues do business with the county government and really fear signing the petition. They will now have to make a choice whether they need the party ticket in 2022 or they want to go home with Obado,” an MCA from Suna East told the Nation .
Another MCA from the Kuria community, who also spoke confidentially, said since the impeachment will give the community an opportunity to “hold the prestigious seat,” and any MCA from the community who will oppose the motion “will be viewed as an outcast.”
Kuria West and Kuria East constituencies have 12 wards which are likely to be key decider in the ouster motion.
Mr Obado landed in trouble with his party following corruption charges that prompted a court to bar him from accessing office.
The governor is also on trial for the murder of a university student, Sharon Otieno. Mr Obado appears to have walked himself into the jaws of the “crocodile” he alluded to on November 10, 2018 when he hosted Deputy President William Ruto in Kuria East.
At the time, he had sought the blessings of voters to “walk with the Deputy President in every part of the country so that they could benefit from development.”
Mr Obado’s reference to a crocodile was interpreted as mocking Mr Odinga’s proverbial saying that his (Mr Odinga) journey to Canaan had been halted by crocodiles as he attempted to cross River Jordan.
“There are people who want to put me in the mouth of a crocodile. Please pray for me ... so that the crocodile does not swallow me,” Mr Obado had said.
On Tuesday, Mr Odinga’s ODM party sanctioned his ouster after a meeting with 37 party MCAs.
Mr Obado Wednesday said the party has been hostile to him and the decision to have him impeached was not a surprise.
“ODM is fighting me. (National chairman John) Mbadi and other top party officials are targeting me,” Mr Obado said during a morning interview on Ramogi FM . He alleged the party is coercing MCAs to crucify him, an accusation Mr Mbadi refuted, saying the party’s position on corruption is clear.
“The court order means Obado won't discharge his duties thus the party must take the lead in pushing for service delivery. That is why we made the bold step to have him pave the way for the sake of the people of Migori,” Mr Mbadi said.
Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko accused the governor of seeking to divert public attention: “The accusations against the governor are in the public domain and he must stop diversionary tactics,” said Mr Ayacko.
Mr Obado is not new to controversy: In the run-up to the 2017 General Election, chaos rocked a rally at Posta grounds in Migori town where Suna East MP Junet Mohammed was to launch his bid for a second term.
ODM bigwigs including Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o (then a senator) and Siaya Senator James Orengo were caught up in the chaos on April 3, 2017. Mr Joho’s bodyguard was shot.
“Since then, Obado has been a marked man in ODM,” said an ODM member who sought anonymity.
Wednesday, ODM Migori branch officials told the governor to carry his own cross and avoid dragging the party into his woes.
“The interests of Migori residents supersedes those of an individual and that is what the party stands for. The decision to have the governor resign is based on the gravity of the cases levelled against him and not politics as the governor tends to purport,” said branch chairman Phillip Makabongo.
