Among the allegations leveled against Speaker Oloo (pictured) included failing to conduct house proceedings in a free, fair, objective and impartial manner, failure to allow executive Bills to be debated and being subject of an active corruption investigation/FILE – Kisumu County Assembly
KISUMU, Kenya, Sep 19 – The Kisumu County Assembly on Wednesday impeached Onyango Oloo, the embattled Speaker of the local legislative assembly in a controversial vote that saw the number of votes exceed the number of lawmakers in the Assembly by nine.
Oloo’s impeachment was seen as having been orchestrated by Governor Anyang Nyong’o who for the first time on Wednesday met Assembly leadership when he signed a Sh11.8 billion 2019/20 Budget and Appropriation Bill whose delayed enactment is attributed to longstanding differences between the county chief and the Assembly Speaker.
Acting Speaker Elisha Oraro announced that the motion garnered 42 votes surpassing the 36-member threshold despite an indication that there were only 33 members in the Assembly.
The impeachment motion was moved by Kondele MCA Joachim Oketch on Tuesday but put to debate on Wednesday afternoon session.
Oketch laid ten points why Oloo should be impeached to allow the Assembly to elect a substantive Speaker.
READ: Governor Nyong’o signs into law Sh11.8bn budget, says spending plan well-balanced
Among the allegations leveled against Speaker Oloo included failing to conduct house proceedings in a free, fair, objective and impartial manner, failure to allow executive Bills to be debated and being subject of an active corruption investigation.
Oketch said Oloo is tainted and should not be allowed to occupy a public office.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, this motion is timely, and the reasons given here and very authentic,” he told the House.
Members of County Assembly who were present tore into former Oloo’s style of leadership which they said has left the Assembly divided.
Kolwa East MCA Steve Owiti said Oloo has been “an absentee landlord” as he is always travelling outside the country.
Owiti said the Assembly requires a Speaker who can always be around to guide the House during sessions.
“We need a Speaker that can be here, that can guide this House,” he said.
Kaloleni Shauri Moyo MCA Prisca Misachi said the Assembly will light up again following the impeachment of Oloo.
Misachi said the Bills that were forwarded to the Assembly by the executive were meant for the people of Kisumu County and it was wrong for Oloo to obstruct their adoption.
“All those Bills are for Kisumu County, and Kisumu County is bigger than the 48 MCAs of us,” she said.
After the debate with no MCA standing to support the embattled Speaker, the acting Speaker Elisha Oraro called for Oloo or his legal representative to defend himself against the allegations.
The Sergeant at Arms who was ordered to usher Oloo into the Assembly to defend himself against allegations levelled against him told the House Oloo could not be traced within the Assembly precincts.
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