Migori County Assembly Speaker Charles Likowa has been impeached by the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) over alleged mishandling of House affairs.
Tuesday’s impeachment motion was passed by 59 out of 60 MCAs present during the afternoon session.
The majority of the MCAs accused the Speaker of poor management of the County Assembly matters and a lack of accountability over the Assembly’s finance affairs.
Led by Majority Leader Ken Ouma, the MCAs said that they have not been paid their committee allowances for a long time. Ouma said that Likowa has not been giving any proper reason or explanation, which shows a lack of respect for the members of the county assembly.
Ouma said the failure of the Speaker to run the County Assembly as per the expectations of the MCAs has disrupted House business.
North Kamagambo MCA Collins Osewe also acknowledged that since December, the MCAs have not held any House Assembly committees which has hugely affected the discharge of duties as expected.
“The Speaker has not been looking into the welfare of our members and it was important that the MCAs relook and reassess to make an informed choice on the way forward,” lamented Osewe.
Migori Deputy Speaker and Bukira East MCA Mathews Chacha who assumed the role of interim Speaker disclosed that he was going to work together with all the MCAs to address the issues that have been ailing the County Assembly.
Likowa’s impeachment comes at a time when he has been battling cases in court challenging his election as the Speaker of the Migori County Assembly.
In February 2023 activist Isaac Aluochier, who vied to become Migori County Assembly Speaker but lost, contested the victor, Charles Owino Likowa’s victory in court.
High Court Judge Roseline Wendoh ruled that Likowa’s election was null and void as legal compliance with the poll’s conduct was proven.
The court ordered that a fresh election be conducted in 21 days, but Likowa’s lawyer sought stay orders to allow the filing of an appeal.
By Geoffrey Makokha
