Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has been pushed out of office after a dramatic showdown in the County Assembly that saw 23 ward representatives vote to impeach him in one of the region’s most chaotic political episodes.

Only 28 MCAs were physically present during the heated session, with 12 keeping off. But in a twist that is already triggering legal and political debate, Speaker Thadeus Nyabaro permitted six MCAs to cast proxy votes on behalf of their absent colleagues, a move that helped the House meet the two-thirds threshold required to refer the matter to the Senate.

The decision was made despite a sworn affidavit by the 12 absent MCAs distancing themselves from the process, an affidavit the majority faction brushed aside as they pushed the motion through. The impeachment motion was sponsored by Bonyamatuta Ward MCA Kimwomi Matwere, who accused the governor of abuse of office and a series of administrative violations.

Nyaribo’s turbulent reign, which began in late 2020 after the death of former governor John Nyagarama, has repeatedly been rocked by rebellion inside the Assembly. Twice before, MCAs have attempted to remove him over allegations ranging from mismanagement to nepotism, both attempts leaving the House bitterly divided.

The October 2023 effort plunged the Assembly into unprecedented disarray, splitting MCAs into rival camps. One faction, led by then-speaker Enock Okero, even held parallel sittings outside the official chambers under the banner “Bunge Mashinani.” It took protracted court battles and judicial intervention to restore a single functioning Assembly, but peace remained fragile.

By September 2024, tensions flared again when nominated MCA Evans Matunda tabled another impeachment motion. That bid collapsed by the thinnest margin—22 votes in favour, one short of the mandatory 23.

This time, with three seats vacant following pending by-elections, the Assembly currently has 32 members. That means the governor needed at least 12 MCAs on his side to survive. That support failed to materialise, paving the way for his removal.

Nyaribo now faces a Senate trial that will determine whether he exits office permanently or survives to complete his term. Either way, Nyamira’s political landscape has entered yet another volatile chapter, one defined by power blocs, shifting loyalties and a county still wrestling with long-standing internal fractures.