Baringo County Assembly Deputy Speaker Ameja Zelemoi was on Tuesday impeached after MCAs unanimously agreed to sack him over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
The ouster motion moved by Majority Leader Lawi Kipchumba and seconded by Mochongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop was voted overwhelmingly by 36 MCA who signed to support the motion save for one MCA who opposed the impeachment during a stormy session that took two-and half hours.
“We brought the motion to the house because Zelemoi was abusing the seat we had given him and also over gross misconduct while in office,” Kipchumba said.
Zelemoi had been charged with seven counts of gross misconduct while in office which were tabled against him by the majority leader who is also the Eldama Ravine member of county assembly.
Among the serious allegations levelled against the deputy speaker included alleged assault of Silale ward MCA Nelson Lotela late last year within the precincts of the assembly whereby the victim suffered serious body harm especially on the ear.
The assembly also listed that they had lost confidence and trust in the deputy speaker owing to his general inappropriate conduct contrary to the expectations of a state officer.
Mr Zelemoi who is Churo/Amaya ward MCA was also accused of having misused county vehicle, whereby he was spotted offloading cabbages which he had transported using county assembly vehicle in a Nakuru hotel, a move that then attracted public outcry.
He was also charged with gross violation of the oath of office whereby he failed to act as a symbol of unity within the county assembly and at the community level.
Mr Zelemoi is alleged to have blatantly demonstrated divisive politics which hampered peaceful cohesion in the county assembly and the county at large.
The deputy speaker in his defense said he was just a victim in the Jubilee and KANU party rivalry that has been rocking Baringo like many other counties in Rift Valley that are faced with supremacy battles between deputy president Dr William Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who have expressed interest of vying for presidency in 2022 general elections .
“I have not been given enough time to respond to the allegations which have been laid against me, this is my first time seeing the charges,” lamented Zelemoi.
The ousted deputy speaker added that the entire impeachment process was unfair and he shall move to court to seek for Justice.
After passing the impeachment motion moments before 6:30pm, the assembly took a 30-minute break and came in for a session whereby they voted in Kisanana MCA Jacob Cheboiwo as the new deputy speaker.
After passing the impeachment motion the assembly adjourned for 14 days due to the Coronavirus pandemic that is now a global health problem which has seen seven cases so far confirmed in Kenya.
By Cleophas Kibiwot and Joshua Kibet
