Migori Governor Okoth Obado can breath a sigh of relief wherever he is at Industrial Area Police Station as an impeachment motion by the County Assembly has gone cold.
Majority of the MCAs have rushed to the defense of the embattled governor who is facing murder charges at the High Court.
Obado is accused of killing his girlfriend Sharon Otieno, in cold blood in September. Sharon’s body was found in a thicket in Kodera forest, two days after being lured to abduction by Michael Oyamo, Obado’s aide.
MCAs seeking to kick out Mr Obado say the criminal charges he is facing after being linked to the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno is adequate reason for him to relinquish his seat. But the camp backing Mr Obado has maintained that the county chief is innocent until proved guilty, and attempts to impeach him may be prejudicial.
Majority Leader Mallan Ogega said he was not aware of any plans to impeach the governor and maintained that it is too early to entertain impeachment ideas.
“The assembly has not received anything on the ouster of the governor. I believe it is premature to talk about it. We appeal to the people of Migori to remain calm as the law takes its course,” Mr Ogega said.
Scores of MCAs thronged the law courts in Nairobi on Monday and Thursday last week to show solidarity with the governor as he was taken to answer to the murder charge, which he denied.
“We travelled to show solidarity with our governor. We continue to wish him well and we pray that he be vindicated,” one of them said. Yet another MCA confided to the Nation that the motion to impeach the governor would not go through as the assembly is “controlled by the governor”.
Migori has 56 MCAs, two thirds (40) of whom must support any impeachment motion.
The Nation has learnt that a paltry 11 MCAs are supporting the move, albeit covertly, while the rest back Mr Obado.
Nyabasi East MCA Mwita Motangi acknowledged that there is a section of MCAs keen on starting the process of impeaching the governor, but hastened to add that such a motion would not sail through as the governor holds sway in the assembly.
“It is true there are those of us who may want to table a motion of impeachment but this will be defeated upon arrival as a majority are for the governor,” he said.
Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga is among leaders who have maintained that Mr Obado should quit.