By Peter Ochieng
Robert Monda is no longer the Kisii County deputy governor.
Monda officially lost his seat on Thursday night, after majority of Senators voted to uphold the four charges against him, presented by the Kisii County Assembly.
The charges were the genesis of an impeachment motion against him, which sailed through the Kisii County Assembly last month.
He was accused of gross violation of the Constitution and law, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and crimes under national law, about two years into office as Kisii governor Paul Simba Arati’s deputy.
Monda was accused of among others, soliciting and recieving a Sh800,000 bribe from a resident to assist his son get a job. He denied all the charges.
Senators voted him out of office, in a session presided over by Senate Speaker Amason Jeffa Kingi.
“The result of the division indicates that the senators have upheld the following impeachment charges; gross violation of the constitution and any other law, abuse of office, gross misconduct and crimes under national law,” said the Speaker.
“Pursuant to article 181 of the Constitution, section 33 (7) of the County Government’s Act and standing order 86 of the Senate standing orders, the senate has resolved to remove from office by impeachment Dr Robert Monda, the Deputy Governor of Kisii County and the deputy governor therefore ceases to hold office,” he added.
The County Assembly in its charge sheet said Monda failed to uphold the values of public servive.
“By virtue of the deputy governor requesting and receiving a bribe of Sh800,00 he is in breach of the provisions of Article 232 which obligates public officers to observe the values and principles of public service.”
Members of the County Assembly claimed that Monda used his office to intimidate his family into hiding, making them fear for their lives, besides continuously diverting county enforcement officers from their course of duty to work in his firm.
He becomes the first deputy governor to be impeached, since the advent of devolution in Kenya, in 2013.
Last year, the Senate handed Siaya deputy governor William Oduol a lifeline, after being impeached by the Siaya County Assembly.
