Since the introduction of devolution in 2013, there have been several attempts to impeach governors. While some efforts succeeded, others were blocked in the Senate.

In some cases, governors whose impeachments were upheld by the Senate successfully overturned the decisions through court appeals.

According to the Kenyan constitution, a governor can be removed from office on grounds of;

• Gross violation of this Constitution or any other law;
• Where there are serious reasons for believing that the county governor has committed a crime under national or international law;
• Abuse of office or gross misconduct; or
•  Physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of office of county governor.

In this article, we take a look at how this impeachments went down beginning with the ones that were a success;

Kawira Mwangaza

She is the latest and only female governor to be removed from office. Mwangaza lost the fight to retain her Meru County seat when the High Court  upheld her impeachment at the senate last week.

Isaac Mutuma, who served as her deputy has since been sworn in as the new Meru Governor. Since being elected in office in August 2022, Mwangaza faced three impeachments with the senate saving her in the first two.

Some of the accusations she faced that warranted her removal for the third time were; gross violation of the constitution, Gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Mike Sonko

Sonko was impeached in 2020. He face 11 charges relating to gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, gross misconduct and crimes under national law.
The senate upheld his impeachment on December 17, 2020.
Following his removal from office, Anne Kananu was sworn in as governor of Nairobi City County.

Ferdinand Waititu

Waititu suffered the same fate as Mwangaza and Sonko in 2020. Kiambu county MCAs approved his impeachment in January 29,2020 and the senate upheld the impeachment in June the same year.

He was impeached on three counts of violation of the constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct. His deputy James Nyoro was sworn in to replace him.

Unsuccessful Impeachments

Anne Waiguru

Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru survived an impeachment in 2020. MCAs recommended her removal from office citing  abuse of office and gross violation of the law. This is after she failed to deliver her annual state of the county address to the county assembly. She was accused of using her office to benefit herself when she irregularly received travel allowances that amounted to Kshs10.6 million among other charges.

Senators however saved Waiguru from impeachment

Mohamed Abdi Mogamud

The former Wajir governor was ousted in 2021. The court however rescued him, terming his impeachment as illegal. According to the court, there was no public participation ahead of Abdi’s removal. The court also nullified the appointments of Ahmed Mukhtar and Hashim musa as governor and deputy governor respectively

Martin Wambora

The former Embu governor was impeached by MCAs and senator in 2014. The court however reinstated his position

Mwangi wa Iria

Wa Iria faced an impeached in 2015. Murang’a MCAs impeached him over gross misconduct and abuse of office. The senate however did not uphold his impeachment.

Granton Samboja

Samboja served as Taita Taveta governor between 2017-2022. MCAs however sought his ouster in 2019 over gross misconduct, violation of the law, misappropriation of funs among other allegations. The senate however did not uphold the impeachment as there was no strong evidence to recommend his removal from office.

Paul Chepkwony

During his first term as Kericho governor, Chepkwony was ousted by MCAs in 2014. The senate however reinstated his position.